LAHORE: In view of the prevailing tense situation, all schools, colleges and other educational institutions in Punjab will remain shut for two days, Provincial Minister for Education Rana Mashhood said on Sunday.
The decision will be applicable to all private and government educational institutions.
The minister said that the decision was taken in view the current aggravated situation in the country.
As protests enter the second day, sit-ins are being held and roads have been blocked at 19 points in Lahore including Mall Road, Shahdara Morr, Babu Sabu, Amamia Colony railway crossing, Thokar Niaz Baig, Faisal Chowk, Chungi Amar Sidhu, Ferozpur Road and Ichra.
Violence continues for the second day
The protesters who largely belong to various ‘religious’ parties, including the Tehreek-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLY) and the Sunni Tehreek Pakistan (ST), continued their protest at the Faizabad bridge on Sunday. The agitators have been calling for the sacking of Law Minister Zahid Hamid and strict action against those behind the amendment in the Elections Act 2017.
In Lahore, demonstrators have occupied Shahdara Chowk, Mall Road and Faisal Chowk since yesterday. Traffic and routes have been disrupted.
On Saturday, at least six people were killed and hundreds wounded as law enforcement agencies finally launched an operation to clear Faizabad interchange from protesters.
The six killed were identified as Hafiz Mohammad Adeel, Jahanzaib Butt, Abdul Rehman, Mohammad Sharjeel, Zohaib Ahmed and Mohammad Irfan.
The injured also include senior police officials, nine police officers and a polio vaccinator.
