RAWALPINDI: The city administration on Wednesday gave three days to two government schools, one for boys and the other for girls, to take proper security measures.

On Wednesday, a police team headed by inspector Wasim Faraz, visited the schools and found that they were not following the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for security and sealed the schools. However, the schools later opened.

The police team warned school administrations that if arrangements are not made till the deadline the schools would be sealed.

Government High School for Boys, Ghareebabad and Government Girls High School, Rehmatabad do not even armed watchmen deployed at the gates.

Following the Army Public School, Peshawar attack, the government issued an SOP for security for all educational institutions. The IG Punjab, Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera, recently expressed concern over the waning alertness level of police with regards to school security.

DSP Civil Lines circle, Farhan Aslam, confirmed that the police team had gone to the two government schools to inspect security arrangements.

“The schools only have unarmed watchmen and niether the schools barbed wire on walls nor CCTV cameras,” DSP Farhan said.

The schools’ administrations, however, assured the police team that they would implement the security SOP within three days.

Inspector Wasim Faraz received reports of inadequate security measures at the two government high schools registered with the Airport police.

Following directives from IGP Sukhera, police teams are carrying out a survey of security arrangements at all schools in the garrison city.

IGP Sukhera had directed the police to give cellphone numbers of Elite Force senior officials to all schools.

The police had already been directed to pay special attention to security of army, missionary and international schools.

Furthermore, Elite Force commandos will be deployed around strategically important schools.

Patrolling around the schools has also been increased.

Replying to a question, a senior police official said private schools were following the SOP for security.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2015

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