ATTOCK, Oct 11: The main educational institutions in the city have been closed for four days as part of security arrangements for the annual reunion ceremony at the Artillery Centre where President Gen Pervez Musharraf will address the participants of the closing session on Thursday.

A large number of people said the step would badly affect the students, belying the government's claim of promoting education. They said all the four educational institutions in Attock Cantonment, including the F.G. high schools, had been closed from Monday to Thursday.

The residents said Iqra Grammar College building on Kamra Road had been occupied by organizers of the ceremony on October 9 to make arrangements for the VVIP guests. These measures being taken to facilitate the VVIPs contradict the government's claim of eliminating VVIP culture from society, they added.

They said it was unjust to suspend educational activities for four days for the sake of providing security to high- ranking military officials. The residents said President Musharraf would visit the Artillery Centre for only a few hours; therefore, suspension of educational activities three days prior to the event is illogical.

They said it was not a new experience for them as they had to face similar situation on the occasion of annual reunion celebrations. Meanwhile, strict security measures have been taken by the law-enforcement agencies in connection with the function. A large number of army personnel have been deployed on the Attock-Sanjwal road and its surrounding areas.