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Lahore: In schools across the city, the typical day in class has been repeatedly interrupted by loud bells, signalling emergency evacuation drills.
At entrance gates, guards have been equipped with metal detectors, vendors selling food items who typically throng areas around schools moved away and restrictions placed on parking of cars.
These scenes represent images that most in the country had hoped would never be seen.
They have come about as a consequence of bomb threats received by at least nine leading city schools during the last three days, leading to the buildings being hastily emptied, police bomb squads called in and terrified pupils sent home.
A number of schools have closed till after the elections, when it is hoped greater calm will prevail.
School administrations and police have maintained that all the threats, made through telephones warning schools of bombs on their premises, have been hoaxes, intended to spread panic.
In a statement on Thursday, City Police Chief Malek Mohammad Iqbal appealed to citizens to stay calm, and held that some "anti-social elements" were deliberately attempting to "disturb the peaceful atmosphere".
Accusations
Despite these reassurances, parents have been refusing to send children to school. Attendance at almost all city schools slumped sharply on Thursday and Friday, while there were also accusations of a "cover-up" and rumours that explosive devices had indeed been found at some of the campuses after they were evacuated.
"The thing is that, whether or not bombs have actually been found, a threat has been made to schools. In this situation, I am simply not willing to send my children to their classes," said Iffaf Anwar, a mother of three.
An investigation is under way, while bomb disposal squads remain on high alert.
A cause of alarm is the public feeling that the authorities have failed to identify the origin of the mysterious phone calls.
The fact that many of the city's most prestigious schools have been targeted also suggests that the perpetrators of the bomb threats are eager to ensure maximum media publicity.
This, in turn, has of course added to the sense of fear all around.
Well-planned
The campaign has also been well-planned and orchestrated, with several schools hit almost simultaneously on a single day, maximising the panic and the rumours that now circulate through the city.
"I received an SMS message from my cousin saying there was a bomb at their school. She asked us to pray for them. It was really very scary," said Aliza Naqvi, 14, a school student.
It is widely believed the bomb threats are intended to create greater uncertainty and insecurity ahead of the elections scheduled for tomorrow.
The purpose behind this is unclear, but there is speculation that it could be a plot to keep the poll turn-out down - a situation that some analysts believe would favour the ruling party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Q.
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