Lack of foolproof security measures at our institutions enable terrorists to continue to threaten more attacks
KARACHI: The recent attack on Bacha Khan University has resulted in growing insecurity of parents whose children study at various institutions across the country. Our schools, colleges and universities are highly vulnerable to terror attacks and are soft targets for militants. Operation Zarb-e-Azb is underway and thousands of terrorists have been detained and killed but they still retain the ability to cause bloodshed and mayhem. Whenever evil forces want to attack us, they manage to do so, leaving many questions unanswered regarding the efforts of our law-enforcement agencies.
Operation Zarb-e-Azb has not been implemented in Punjab as it should have been even though the province is considered a safe haven for terrorists. No serious action has been taken against madrassas, which are breeding grounds for terrorism and child exploitation in the name of religious education. The Interior Ministry appears to be sleeping and the people of this country have not been taken on board as to what it is doing. The federal minister is found defending the Lal Masjid cleric, who has issued many controversial statements. There is no registered case against Abdul Aziz even though he has supported the Islamic State (IS). The government has not taken foolproof security measures at our institutions and terrorists continue to threaten more attacks. Our universities and schools face the greatest risks. Analysts believe that the performance of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s (K-P) police has improved but terrorists often stage attacks in the province. Likewise, terrorists continue to strike in other provinces as well where police forces are controlled by political institutions. This raises question marks regarding the former’s efficiency. I draw the attention of the government and all institutions through this letter: please ensure foolproof security measures for the protection of our children, who are the future of our country.
Majid Maqsood
Published in The Express Tribune, January 30th, 2016.
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