Islamabad schools barred from police use; teachers freed of extra duties

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has banned the use of schools and colleges run by the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) in Islamabad to house police and security personnel. The ban covers law and order situations, according to TechJuice.

The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training issued an official office memorandum to carry out the instructions. The memorandum says the Prime Minister gave them on 4 November 2026, according to Express News. TechJuice reported that they came during a meeting on Islamabad's education sector, and that the Prime Minister's Office sent written instructions to the ministry, which passed them to the Islamabad administration and police.

Under the order, buildings, classrooms and facilities of federal education institutions cannot be handed to any law enforcement agency. They cannot be used for temporary camps, personnel deployment, detention centres or operational activities, and police camps in schools and colleges are prohibited.

The second part of the decision concerns teachers. They will not be assigned election duties, census work, household surveys or other administrative responsibilities. Express News reported that teachers may be relieved of existing non-teaching duties so they can focus on teaching.

TechJuice reported that the Ministry of Education has told authorities to withdraw all such assignments immediately. The office memorandum has also been sent to the Secretary Interior and the Chief Commissioner Islamabad.

TechJuice also reported that in September, 38 public-sector schools and colleges in Islamabad were closed for one to three weeks to accommodate police ahead of an expected PTI protest. According to an FDE official quoted by the outlet, police began occupying them on 24 September, which disrupted classes and affected thousands of students.