GILGIT, Aug 20: The Northern Areas administration on Wednesday announced that the educational institutions in Gilgit district would remain closed till Sept 15 in view of disturbances in the area.

The government educational institutions in the region were scheduled to open on Sept 1 after summer vacations but due to protests and deteriorating law and order situation their opening has been delayed.

Northern Areas education director, schools, Shehzada Ibrahim, said the schools would be opened after settlement of the issues.

The Markazi Anjuman-i-Imamia on Wednesday threatened to widen protests if the administration continued to detain or harass its members.

The organization, in a statement, said over 3,500 protestors on Tuesday took out a procession in Skardu that turned violent and damaged public and private property.

The protests were held apparently against the college admission policy but the underlying reason was the three-year old controversy over syllabus, particularly that of Islamiat.

No one involved in ransack and arson had been arrested so far, the sources said.

The organization, in a resolution, blamed the local administration for Tuesday’s incidents and threatened that if the issue was not settled by Sept 1, the Shia community would launch protest.

When contacted, a Northern Areas home department official said the issue could only be solved at the federal level.

He said the protests were disturbing peace and tranquillity in the region and the administration was trying to persuade the community’s leadership to end the strikes.

Witnesses said protesters staged a rally in Gumba to press for their demands on Wednesday.