Security

I don't know whether you remember it or not but in December 2014 there was an attack on an army public school in Pashawar where 132 children, and some teachers, were killed.
It was the deadliest terrorist attack ever to occur in Pakistan.

Following that tragedy the Government beefed up security throughout the country, particularly in private schools. 
Although they don't subsidise the cost in any way, their guidelines must be obeyed.
They can close a school for failing to implement the guidelines. 
You can imagine how this drains the school funds of money, money that was set aside for the children and resources.


CJM, both in Lahore and here in Murree, fall into Category A. 
Children in both schools come from families with army backgrounds and, in Lahore, many children are sons and daughters of professionals and Government officials.  
Sister Marian was just telling me, at lunch today, that the school here received a message last year saying that it was the next target for an attack.  It was later found to be a hoax, but not before the army had moved in and set themselves up to protect everyone.  Scary!


Lahore has barbed wire on its high walls, there is a police guard on the road outside the premises 24/7, barricades are in front of the gates, security guards are on duty 24/7 also, and during school hours, there's an armed guard on the roof of the building.  Children are chaperoned to and from school and only staff cars are allowed on to the grounds.



The town of Murree is in the Cantonement area so there's a great army presence on the roads. 
The drivers for the sisters are local men and so are known at the checkpoints. 
They're usually given a clear run, but last week when we were coming back from the town, we were pulled over ... possibly a new, enthusiastic soldier on duty ... and a mirror-sweep was done under the body of the van.
I think it was a day or two after that the army needed a copy of my passport. 
They had noticed 'a foreigner' in their midst!!

I'm sure all that sounds a little scary to you. 

I'm getting used to it now. 

Despite it all we're well looked after and the children in the school are open, wide-eyed, honest children who simply want to learn and become good citizens of the world.