Nursing school withdraws ban on burka, veil

By Syed Nashir Ali Gillani

Srinagar, Mar 27: The AMT nursing school, associated with the Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, on Tuesday lifted the ban on wearing burka or veil.
The school had asked the female students to give an undertaking that they would not cover their faces or wear Abhayas during clinical postings.
“The undertaking sought from the candidates in the form of an affidavit as appearing at para no 11 is hereby withdrawn and shall be treated as cancelled ab initio,” reads the corrigendum issued by the principal.
The ban had evoked strong criticism from the students and organisations like Dukteran-e Millat (DeM).
In her statement, chief of DeM, Asiya Andrabi, threatened agitation if the order was not revoked.
“There will be serious repercussions. The diktat issued by AMT school, asking girls not to wear Abhaya, is a direct attack on the Islamic affairs of the Muslim women,” read her statement.
“As Muslim women, we have pledged to the Almighty Allah that we will cover ourselves from head to toe. It is an obligation for us and being Muslim it is impossible for these daughters to remove the veil.”