The report claimed that eight of the 19 security guards of the university were absent at the time of the attack. PHOTO: IRFAN GHAURI
The inquiry committee probing the ghastly rampage at the Bacha Khan University has accused the vice-chancellor and security chief of negligence and recommended sacking them.
Taliban terrorists stormed the university situated in Charsadda district on January 20, killing at least 21 people, mostly students.
In its report submitted to the government, the three-member committee said the vice chancellor, Dr Fazlur Rahim Marwat, failed to put in place a proper security mechanism even though the police had warned against the worst security on the campus. Marwat, however, dismissed the report as a face-saving exercise.
The inquiry committee also said that the security in-charge, Ashfaq Ahmad, had “completely mismanaged the security issue. His sole duty was security, but he has had no [relevant] training or expertise”.
Ahmad, who was on leave for two years, returned to work only recently, and he was ‘mysteriously’ absent from duty on the day of the attack, added the report.
It claimed that eight of the 19 security guards of the university were absent at the time of the attack. “Four were absent on that day while four others ran away after hearing gunshots.”
Moreover, the committee said, the university administration had not informed the district administration about the poetry programme being organised on the campus on the anniversary of maverick Pashtun leader Bacha Khan — after whom the varsity is named.
The vice chancellor had left the security responsibilities with a PhD professor without discussing the matter with the syndicate, stated the report, adding that the professor was not trained in dealing with the complexities of his task.
“At the time of the attack, the security guards were in possession of as many as 41 different kinds of weapons, including 30 shotguns, five Kalashnikovs and six rifles.”
The committee recommended that the government take action against the vice chancellor and the security chief and remove them from service. The body also suggested that former servicemen be recruited for security, and the daily-wage guards be made permanent employees.
The inquiry committee — comprising Peshawar’s commissioner, the regional police officer and the Higher Education Commission special secretary — was notified by the government to fix responsibility for the BKU attack.
Saving face?
Dr Marwat, the BKU VC, said in a statement that the inquiry committee’s members were using him and the university’s security chief as scapegoats.
Before the arrival of the Pakistan Army and police, the varsity’s guards fought the terrorists and kept them engaged on the premises, he said.
He criticised the provincial and federal governments for not providing proper security to educational institutions across the country. “It is the government’s responsibility to protect citizens. Teachers, students and untrained security guards cannot ward off trained militants and their heavy weapons.”
Marwat said BKU officials were satisfied with the role of the army and other security agencies, but he criticised the committee’s report. “Instead of issuing such reports, we should focus on providing security to educational institutions.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 31st, 2016.
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