Two universities in the Islamabad and Rawalpindi region have announced a temporary shift to online classes as security preparations intensify ahead of a planned protest in Islamabad on September 27. HITEC University Taxila and the Wah and Attock campuses of COMSATS University Islamabad have issued notices stating that classes will be conducted online from Thursday, September 24, until further notice. The announcements come as authorities increase security measures across Attock, Taxila, Rawalpindi and Islamabad, particularly along major routes connecting the areas with the federal capital. According to ProPakistani, the decision by the universities is linked to the security situation and preparations surrounding the planned march.
HITEC University Taxila and the relevant COMSATS University Islamabad campuses are among educational institutions located close to routes that could be affected by increased security activity. Authorities have reportedly positioned containers around major crossings and increased security along the Grand Trunk Road, motorway, Chach Interchange, Attock Bridge, Haroon Bridge and Ghazi Barotha Bridge. ProPakistani reported that around 30,000 personnel were being deployed in Attock, while some educational institutions in Hazro had already been temporarily closed. The Punjab government has also requested deployment of Rangers in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Mianwali as preparations continue. These measures are taking place ahead of the planned September 27 protest and are affecting movement and institutional arrangements in several areas surrounding Islamabad.
The online-class arrangement announced by the two universities is intended to allow academic activities to continue while students and faculty avoid disruptions that could result from road closures, security checkpoints or restricted movement. Under the notices reported on September 23, online classes are scheduled to begin on September 24 and will continue until further notice. The universities have not publicly specified an exact date for returning to on-campus classes. The situation may therefore depend on developments in the security environment and any further directions issued by the relevant authorities. The shift also comes as Islamabad has taken control of 24 public educational institutions to accommodate security personnel during preparations, adding another layer of disruption to educational facilities in the capital.
Despite the announcements from HITEC University Taxila and the Wah and Attock campuses of COMSATS University Islamabad, ProPakistani reported that no similar general announcement had been publicly issued by universities in Islamabad and Rawalpindi as of September 23. COMSATS University Islamabad, for example, was still listing an on-campus event for September 24 at the time of the report. This indicates that arrangements may differ between campuses and institutions depending on their location and operational requirements. The online transition announced by the two universities currently applies to the specified campuses, while further decisions regarding physical classes will depend on the circumstances surrounding the September 27 protest and subsequent security arrangements.
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