Concerns over school going children's safety

Parents worried about children's safety
Rawalpindi, Oct 25: The parents are reluctant and still worried to send their kids to schools and colleges despite government announcement of reopening of education institutions from Monday (October 26).

The incident of terrorism at Islamic International University has raised serious doubts in the minds of parents about the safety of their school and college going children.

Mrs Nasir said that she was herself a schoolteacher and mother of three school going children. "I am worried about the studies of my children due to closure of their school, but their safety is our first priority."

People have been laying stress on the school administrations to ensure security of the children that is also worrying for the school owners. Muhammad Saleem, who runs a private school at Tench Bhata said that it would be difficult for the private school owners to bear the extra cost of security, but we will try to address the people's concern. The news

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Reopening of International Islamic University
Islamabad: The International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI) will reopen on Monday said a press statement issued by the university on Saturday.

All the academic and administrative activities will resume on Monday. University administration issued instructions to all students, teachers & employees to attend the university normally. University busses with go on all routes to collect the students and employees.

Meanwhile the university administration said "Save Pakistan Rally" will be held at the International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI) on Monday when the university will reopen after closing of five days due to two suicide blast at Shariah Faculty and Women Cafeteria on October 20, 2009.

Prof Fateh Muhammad Malik, Rector IIUI, Dr Anwar Hussain Siddiqui, President IIUI and Dr Zafar Ishaq Ansari, Vice President IIUI will lead the students rally. This rally will start at 11.00 a.m. from the boys hostel lawn and will go to the Shariah Faculty. Where the students will lay dawn the flowers in memory of their fellows who have been martyred during the suicidal attack. A large number of Students, teachers, and Employees will participate in the rally.

An other rally of female students will start from the women campus and go the Women Cafeteria where the girls students lay down the flowers. The Purpose of these rallies is to show the dedication and courage of the students, teachers & employees against the terrorist attacks on Pakistan and educational institution. The students will also pray for the solidarity, security and peace for Pakistan. Daily times

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Death toll in IIUI attacks rises to seven
Islamabad: Death toll of twin suicide attacks at the International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI) rose to seven as another female student succumbed to injuries in a hospital here on Saturday, hospital administration said.

The deceased was identified as Amna Batool, a student of English Literature, died in the Surgical ICU ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) at around 10:50am.

Later, her body was taken to her house, located at G-11/2, where her funeral prayers were offered. She was led to rest at H-11 graveyard. Ms Batool was among 36 persons, who sustained injuries in the suicide attacks. Dawn

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Young generation support armed forces
Islamabad: A large number of students from different schools and colleges of the twin cities staged a demonstration on Saturday to show their unflinching support to the armed forces in their ongoing battle against militants and vowed to remain united for betterment of the country.

The impressive outpouring of sentiments by future leaders of the country took place at a popular public spot in the heart of the capital city, which is reeling from a series of terrorist attacks so far claiming hundreds of lives including female students of International Islamic University, Islamabad.

The participants of the event, jointly organised by Young Pakistan, Young Youth Alliance and Young Citizens, showed firm determination that they would render any kind of sacrifice to save their loving country.

Carrying national flags, banners and placards, the participants chanted slogans against increasing militancy and demanded of the government to take every step to get rid of the menace threatening integrity of the country.

Speaking on the occasion Ayla Hussain from Young Pakistan, a non-governmental organisation, said that the people of Pakistan especially students would put in their best efforts to embark the country on the road of progress and prosperity. "We are united and are fully capable of defending our country. No one can mute our voices because the students always play their key role in the hour of need," she said. She said that the green flag shows us the way; to be peaceful, to progress and to spread light and knowledge, adding this is what visionaries like Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Allama Iqbal, Chaudhry Rehmat Ali and Liaquat Ali Khan had envisaged for their Pakistan.

Raheel Khan said that the green colour in the flag represents prosperity; white symbolises peace; the white crescent represents progress; and the white star, light and knowledge. "We, the people, want to see the vision of founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah not, as a dream but as a prophecy. Inshallah, with the support and dedication of patriotic Pakistani citizens, Pakistan will one day become one of the greatest nations in the world," he said.

The youngest participant of the demonstration was 5-year old Ayan, who is studying in Army Public School and reached the place with her father.

Ayan said she feels scared while watching dead bodies and blood on the television screens and she wants all the people to remain united and peaceful.

She said "Our teachers have told us that if we want to make our country stronger then we should remain peaceful and move towards the path of progress and prosperity."

Tahir Abbas, district coordinator of Young Pakistan, said that they have started a 'Flag Movement' to unite the nation against looming adversity and rekindle a feeling of patriotism in every Pakistani citizen. The news

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Adjournment motion filed on IIU suicide attacks
Islamabad: Five members of National Assembly have filed an adjournment motion to discuss suicide attacks in International Islamic University (IIU). MNAs Raja Muhammad Asad Khan, Abdul Majeed Khan Khanankhel, Malik Shakir Bashir Awan, Syed Javed Hasnain and Nighat Perveen have moved this motion to discuss a matter of urgent importance.

"We move an adjournment motion to the House to discuss a matter of urgent national importance. This relates to the unfortunate day of October 20 when two suicide bombing incidents rocked female students cafeteria and Shariah block of International Islamic University killing a few students, male and female," said the contents of the motion.

It further stated, "after this incident, all educational institutions were shocked and feared terror. It is therefore, imperative that this motion be discussed in the House." app

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Security plan almost finalised
Rawalpindi: Plan to give maximum-security cover to visitors at the allied hospitals in the prevalent critical law and order situation has almost been finalised on Saturday.

A meeting chaired by Principal Rawalpindi Medical College and In-charge Allied Hospitals Professor Dr Mohammad Mussadiq Khan Saturday deliberated upon how the allied hospitals, doctors' hostels of RMC and nurses' hostels of the three nursing schools at the allied hospitals could be made more secure.

Top officials at administrations of the hospitals said that implementation of the security plan discussed in the meeting would take another few days.

Medical superintendents of the three hospitals including Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital, Principals of the three nursing schools at allied hospitals, administration officer of RMC and wardens of doctors' hostels at RMC attended the meeting.

The meeting decided that every hospital would have a single entry and exit point. The boundary walls of the hospitals would be erected higher and barbed wire would be installed at the walls. Hand searching of all persons entering the hospitals would be made possible and visitors' cards would be issued to visitors at the allied hospitals.

He said that the meeting also decided to make possible screening of all visitors with the help of metal detectors, while of vehicles with mirror. "Every vehicle entering the hospitals' premises would be issued entry pass/ticket, however, the hospitals would charge no fee for the purpose," he said.

He said that the hospitals would make presence of security staff possible in the inward sections. "It has been planned that a few staff members would be deputed to keep watch on visitors in all the three shifts."

To a query, Dr Ijaz claimed that most of the security measures discussed in the meeting have already been implemented.

Dr Mussadiq said that the hospitals and allied premises of RMC have been facing shortage of staff and implementation of security measures might take a few more days. "We have decided to hire additional security personnel from security service providers."

He said that it is not possible for the allied hospitals to stop entry of vehicles to the hospitals' premises as it would cause a permanent traffic jam on Murree Road and on roads leading to DHQ hospital in Raja Bazaar.

"We will, however, try to take maximum possible security measures to make hospitals, nurses' and doctors' hostels safer for the staff and visitors," he claimed. The news

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