Forty days later: Honouring Bacha Khan University attack victims

Cricketer Younis Khan attends to express solidarity with students

SHABQADAR: The forty-day anniversary of those who were killed during the attack on Bacha Khan University Charsadda was observed on the varsity’s premises on Monday.

Mardan Region DIG Saeed Wazir, Secretary for Higher Education Farah Hamid, Vice Chancellor Fazalur Rahim Marwat, faculty members, former national cricket team captain Younis Khan and Awami National Party Central General Secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain visited the campus on the occasion. Prayers were said for the fallen and the visitors placed flowers and wreaths on a memorial spot.





Speaking to visitors and students, the cricketing legend Younis said, “The right to education is important and must be given top priority.” He added, “I stand in solidarity with all those who were killed during the attack on BKU.” Younis distributed t-shirts with his own name among students.

Marwat told the media all those who lost their lives will always be remembered and education will continue to be imparted in the hope of enlightening the wider community. He said he donated Rs200,000 to raise funds for BKU attack victims and appealed to others to also contribute.

Marwat said, “[Getting rid of] terrorism is not the sole responsibility of the state – every individual should play his or her role in eliminating it.”

Mian Iftikhar said, “Terrorists, through such attacks, give the impression that the government is incapable of providing security to educational institutions.” He added, “It is our responsibility to give so much importance to educational institutions that the idea of terrorism is defeated.”



Expressing distress, Mian Iftikhar said, “Unfortunately, our government has no plan of promoting peace through education.”

He appreciated military operations in North Waziristan Agency and demanded similar operations across the country to defeat militancy. Mian Iftikhar also paid tribute to those who lost their lives recently in the military operations.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 1^st, 2016.