Still vulnerable: FIRs registered against 180 soft targets

Hazara University administration officer charged for lax security arrangements

PESHAWAR/MANSEHRA: In ongoing efforts since the attack on Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, police registered another wave of FIRs against government and private educational institutions, offices and other buildings in Peshawar over their lack of security. Over 180 such FIRs were registered over the last few days.

FIRs were registered against administrators of Haryana, Bakhshi Pul, Mattani, Sheikh Muhammadi and Industrial grid stations. Similarly, police registered FIRs against the administrator of the World Food Programme, while managers of a Mobilink franchise on Kohat Road and NADRA office in University Town were also among those booked.

Principals of more than 50 private and government schools have also been booked. Those arrested included the principals of Bacha Khan Girls High School Nothia; Government Girls Middle School Jander Gali, Nothia; Government Girls Primary School Jander Gali, Nothia; Government Girls Primary School Garhi Bacha Khan, Mathra; Government Girls Primary School Regi; Government Girls Middle School Regi; and Government Girls High School Gulbahar No 2.



A police official told The Express Tribune, “The FIRs are being registered under the Sensitive and Vulnerable Places Act, 2015 against schools, offices, grid stations and hotels across the province as the police launched a district-wise security review.” He added, “These visits revealed most government schools and some private schools are without proper security.”

Continuing crackdowns

Soon after the BKU attack, police registered more than 70 FIRs against government schools, offices, private hostels and other buildings in the city for their lack of security.

On December 15, 2015, at least 78 administrators of various educational institutions were arrested on charges of failing to maintain foolproof security arrangements in and around their campuses in Peshawar.

Hazara University

A case was registered against the administration officer of Hazara University (HU) Garden Campus for poor security arrangements, said the police on Monday. Shinkiari police said despite repeated warnings, the administration failed to repair broken boundary walls or implement other security measures. According to the police, they registered a case against administration officer Major (retd) Shireen on the complaint of Shinkiari SHO Iftikhar Ahmed Khan under Section 12 of the sensitive establishments act on Sunday.

The spokesperson confirmed the report but added following the Charsadda attack, security was improved by adding barbed wires to the walls and installing walkthrough gates. He added Shireen has obtained bail and has written to the SHO, asking what type of security the police wanted the varsity to install.

Currently, HU has 23 security guards and 18 guards of a private company were also deployed at the campus. Till 2008, the university had 20 policemen deployed but the law-enforcement agency reduced the number to eight. The HU spokesperson accused the police of lack of cooperation.

In Torghar, the police registered a similar case against the administration officer of the local passport office for poor security arrangements.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th,  2016.