Politicos absent: Grief, anger swell on BKU attack anniversary

Families of victims demand judicial inquiry, compensation

SHABQADAR: The first anniversary of the terrorist attack on Bacha Khan University in which more than 20 students and teachers lost their lives was observed in Charsadda amid tight security on Friday with deep sorrow and anger.

No high-ranking political figure – the prime minister, chief minister or governor – was in attendance despite being invited to attend the function by the university administration.

As many as 259 police personnel and 135 security guards were deployed to secure the university premises.

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government was represented by MPAs Shaukat Yusafzai and Arif Ahmadzai, who were welcomed by students, who accused the provincial government of failing to provide security to students as well as compensation to the parents of students killed in the incident.



The event was also attended by District Nazim Charsadda Fahad Riaz Khan, DIG Mardan Police Circle Muhammad Ijaz Khan.

Prayers were offered for the departed souls of the students, teachers and other staff of the university killed in the terror attack.

Rich tributes were paid to all those who sacrificed their lives.

Most people who attended the function were angered by the absence of senior government functionaries.

Former vice-chancellor of the university Dr Fazal Raheem Marwat, who retired on January 17, was also among the absent invitees.

Tasbeehullah, a student who survived the attack, could still recall the dread he experienced on the day of the incident. He said that he lost two of his closest friends, Ahmad Kamal and Ilyas Khan, that day along with 20 others, adding that his right leg was fractured when he jumped to save his life.

Samiullah, another survivor who is unable to speak eloquently because he was struck by a bullet in his face, recalled that he lost three of his friends in the attack, adding that he could never forget the day of the attack.

Ashfaq Hussain, brother of the late Dr Hamid Hussain, was not happy over the provincial government’s response. He called for launching a judicial inquiry into the attack, besides demanding to regularise the appointment of Dr Hussain’s widow, who is serving as a contractual lecturer in a college.



He said he was expecting the government to honour his brother for his bravery by giving him some award.

Dr Hussain lost his life while saving the lives of some of his students.

Meanwhile, Shaukat Yusafzai announced a grant for medical treatment of Samiullah who wrote to the CM for help in this regard.

Arif Yusafzai announced Rs140 million for renovating the university building and said that the provincial government would never forget the sacrifices rendered by the students and teachers.

The student action committee, led by Naveed Gigyani, boycotted the event and demanded equal rights and justice for all those who were killed in the terror attack. They also accused the VC of negligence, maintaining that he did not make proper security arrangements.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2017.