Peshawar University attack

Though many schools already employ guards at gates, sadly, we might need army bomb disposal specialists too.

On January 2, news reports revealed that an explosion occurred at a section of the Peshawar University. While officials say the damage could have been due to a gas explosion, this is also what they claimed a few days earlier when another blast occurred at the same university; it was later confirmed that the first blast involved the detonation of an explosive device. In both incidents, two students were injured each time. Unfortunately, it is feared that this latest blast may also be due to the implanting of an explosive device. This reminds us of the grave security situation Pakistan’s students regularly have to face in certain parts of the country.

In the United States, after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting took place in the state of Connecticut, the National Rifle Association suggested that there should be armed guards at each school to protect students. While the idea sounds ridiculous — and was scorned by many — for a law-abiding nation that has proper laws in place that are actually implemented, the incident in Peshawar and many others like it make us realise that we may need similar security for our educational institutions as well. Although many schools already employ guards at entrance gates, sadly, we might need the army bomb disposal specialists stationed on the premises of our universities, schools and libraries very soon. Depressing, indeed, but this is, perhaps, the need of the time as our state has proven helpless in protecting its own citizens. Intelligence agencies have failed us time and again as has the state in providing security to the various communities in Pakistan, not just the minorities, but also the student communities, especially in vulnerable cities like Peshawar.

There is a need for the state to get its act together and start taking serious and meaningful measures to protect educational institutions in the country. Until these institutions are protected, participation in education across the country is destined to remain low.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2013.