A cost too high? Private schools refuse to buy AK-47s for guards

Official says such measures cannot assure protection

PESHAWAR: Private education institutes in the city have refused to comply with police notices to buy at least three AK-47s for each building. Administrations have said the weapons are no longer easily available in the market.

“We had a meeting with the Peshawar commissioner where the CCPO and SSP were also present,” Private Educational Institutions Management Association President Yawar Naseer told The Express Tribune.

“We informed the commissioner about the police decision; he supported us saying one cannot keep automatic rifles without permits.” Naseer added, “We told him AK-47s are no longer available in Darra Adam Khel openly and all our efforts to buy them failed.”

He added they have been asked not to conduct morning assemblies.

Naseer said they met police officers who insisted these steps be taken. But their meeting with the Peshawar commissioner was more fruitful. “He understood our point and asked us to form a representative body; he said he would convey the demands of the schools to the government.”

He said the commissioner also directed the police to not enter school buildings or arrest principals once FIRs are registered.

Reluctant

The police served notices to all educational institutions to take steps for security. Schools have been asked to equip their guards and also deploy them on rooftops.

While talking to The Express Tribune, Cantt SP Kashif Zulfiqar said the school administrations are allowed to buy any weapons, even a prohibited ones, for their security.

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