Co-edu institutions in city receiving threats from Taliban?

KARACHI: Panic has spread in the city’s co-education institutions after receiving threats, believed to be from the Taliban, in which they have been warned to close down or face the consequences, Daily Times learnt on Monday.
Various educational institutions including schools, colleges and universities have received threatening letters and phone calls by the Taliban. A source privy to the matter revealed that mostly schools having affiliation with the Cambridge Board where male and female students are studying together without any discrimination have received threatening phone calls and also letters posted by the militants.
The source further pointed out that the sender of the threat posed themselves, either on the phone or in the letter, as the Taliban while demanding the end of the co-education system or prepare for an attack.
It was also learnt that the vice chancellor of the largest university of the city had also received phone calls by intelligence agencies inquiring about the possible threat of the Taliban. The source revealed that the agencies suggested to the VC of the universityto make the veil (burqa) compulsory for all girl students as a precautionary measure.
It is pertinent to mention here that a number of schools have also received fake phone calls of there being a bomb on the school premises.
The source further pointed out that the British Council Pakistan delayed the schedule of the O and A level exams because of the possible threat of terrorism. There are 22 centres that will be announced to host the examinations by the British Council Pakistan, however, the announcement of the centres was delayed and it has been decided by the authorities concerned that the schedule of the examination centres will be disclosed late because of minimum risk.

Source: Daily Times —- 28th April, 09

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