Added security: 17 VCs demand check posts at their varsities

CM visits house of slain BKU professor Hamid Hussain for condolence

HANGU/ PESHAWAR/ CHARSADDA: The vice chancellors of all 17 public universities held a meeting and demanded the establishment of police check posts at their institutes.

The meeting was held in the wake of the Bacha Khan University attack in Charsadda. The VCs congregated at Bacha Khan University in Charsadda on Friday. All of them were in the city to condole with Bacha Khan University VC Fazal Raheem Marwat at his office.

The educationists paid tribute to teachers, students and other staff members and expressed their solidarity. The meeting also discussed threats to public sector universities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and demanded the government install proper measures and security posts. It was also asked that automatic weapons be provided to university staff and guards be trained properly.

CM’s visit to Swabi

Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said terrorism was an international issue and combined efforts were under way to eliminate the menace. He added ensuring internal security was imperative to get rid of this menace.

He stated this while speaking to locals in the district Friday afternoon at the residence of martyred Bacha Khan University chemistry professor Hamid Hussain. Relatives of the late professor and locals were present on the occasion.

The CM expressed his deep sorrow and grief over the irreparable loss of the late professor and handed over a cheque Rs15.4 million to the victim’s father.

Talking terrorism

Khattak highlighted initiatives taken by the provincial government to curb terrorism. He pinpointed the government was facing multiple challenges due to this plague. The CM added terrorism had become a cancer and emphasised how army and security forces were also targets.



While referring to steps taken by the provincial government to combat it, he said the counter-terrorism department existed for the first time in the history of the province.

He said directives had already been issued to institutions to enhance their internal security. “Now it is their responsibility to ensure implementation of the directives,” he asserted. Khattak said internal police officers were ordered to ensure security at educational institutions.

School security in Hangu

Headmasters and principals of all highs schools of Hangu held a conference on Friday to discuss the security of their institutes. Hangu District Education Officer Muhammad Shaukat presided over the meeting held at Government High School No2 Hangu.

Faculty members suggested measures to improve the security of schools. The teachers in attendance said the district and provincial administrations had ordered three security personnel be provided to each school, but there was only one guard at every one of them. They urged the government to look into the matter and provide proper security to educational institutes.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd,  2016.