ISLAMABAD: All public and private sector educational institutions, including universities and colleges would remain closed in twin cities today (Friday) due to prevailing situation in the country. According to the information obtained by Daily Times, the federal government has decided to keep close all public sectors educational institutions due to ongoing protests by supporters of Tehreek-e-Labaik (TLP) against Supreme Court verdict, acquitting Asia Bibi, a Christian woman, of blasphemy charges. “In view of emerging law and order situation in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), the educational institutions of the ICT will remain closed on Friday to ensure the safety and security of the students”, reads a letter issued by Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training. The Ministry of Federal education is monitoring 423 public sector educational institutions including 20 model colleges in the ICT. An official in the ministry, wishing anonymity, that it was a wise decision of the ministry as it would be secured for both students and staffers. The private educational institutions would also be kept closed. Malik Abrar Hussain President Pakistan All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association (APPSCA) told Daily Times that the association had decided to keep shut schools temporarily. He said that his association had membership of over 100 private schools. However, Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PIERA), which is a responsible body to monitor affairs of all private institutions in the ICT, did not issue any kind of statement in this regard. The scheduled exams by Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) have been also postponed, FBISE Controller Examination Fatima Zahra confirmed to Daily Times. Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) postponed its exams scheduled in different parts of the country. “AIOU) has postponed its exams to be held on November 1 and November 2 across the country keeping in view the current law and order situation,” said an official statement of the university. It added that according to controller of exams, new date for papers will be announced later. “The papers which were scheduled for October 31 were also postponed. The papers which were cancelled on October 31 will now be held on January 8”, the statement added. Besides, the midterm exams in the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) were also cancelled for an indefinite period. The university said that new schedule would be released later. Besides Islamabad, all educational institutions will remain closed in Rawalpindi, confirmed an official in the Education Department Rawalpindi. Meanwhile, the ministry of national health services and regulations issued a notification to impose an emergency in all federal government hospital, including Polyclinic, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Capital Development Authority (CDA) Hospital. Published in Daily Times, November 2nd 2018.