Time to walk the talk: Govt asked to revise strategy on terrorism

The JI chief criticised the civil, police and university administration

CHARSADDA:

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq voiced concern over the deadly attack on Bacha Khan University Charsadda, saying the government needs to revise strategies to tackle terrorism.

“Bacha Khan University was preparing our future generations. We have been deprived of our future,” said Siraj while talking to media in front of the varsity on Thursday.



“It is extremely inhuman, immoral and unethical to attack educational institutions,” said Siraj. “The terrorist attack against Bacha Khan University is not an attack on an institution, but an attack on the future of 180 million people.”

He denounced the terrorist act, saying, “Condemnation is not enough, we need to take concrete steps.” The attack on BKU is a historical act of barbarism, Siraj said. The JI chief asked the federal and provincial government to revisit their strategy to fight terrorism. “The children who fell victim to terror were our assets, an investment in a better future,” he reiterated.

In response to a question, Siraj recalled after the Army Public School massacre in Peshawar in December 2014, the government formed the National Action Plan. “We had high hopes from NAP, but its outcomes have been disappointing so far,” he observed.

The JI chief also criticised the civil, police and university administration. “It was astonishing the university administration did not provide adequate security, especially on the day when a grand mushaira was being held,” he said. An investigation must be held, he added. After visiting the university, he attended a prayer session arranged for the departed souls outside BKU.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd,  2016.