The Higher Education Department has announced that all colleges and universities in Punjab would remain closed on Friday (tomorrow) and Saturday in anticipation of protests by PTI and the students.

The HEC said this in a notification issued on Thursday. It means there would be a holiday in high schools and universities for the next two days.

Imran Khan’s PTI has announced its decision to protest in the country against the proposed judicial reforms, which the party believes would undermine the judiciary.

According to updates by 8:30pm on Thursday, the protest is scheduled. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman would meet with the PTI leadership to share the draft on which he had a consensus with the PPP.

Separately, students in Punjab have taken to the streets over the past two days for the alleged rape of a college student in Lahore.

But Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz dismissed on Wednesday “rumours spread on social media” related to the alleged on-campus rape of a student in the provincial capital. She described the development as a “fabricated story”.

Last week, news related to the alleged rape of the student went viral on social media, prompting the police to arrest a security guard at the college who was allegedly involved in the incident.

In view of the situation, the Punjab government banned the gathering of more than five people under Section 144 of the CrPC throughout the province. The provincial government has imposed a ban on all forms of protests, processions, and similar activities.

The restriction will be in effect from October 18 to October 19.