Back to class: Educational institutions open amid tight security across K-P

Police remain on high alert, catch college student with pistol in the city.

HARIPUR/ PESHAWAR:

With tight security all around, educational institutions reopened in the provincial capital and across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) for the first time since the horrendous December 16 Army Public School (APS) massacre.

Police remained on high alert and even disarmed a boy who tried to enter Superior Science College in Yakatoot with a pistol.

Extraordinary security measures were taken by the police and school administrations on Monday to avoid any untoward incident. Armed watchmen and security guards outside the schools checked the bags of students with metal detectors, while police personnel remained vigilant throughout the day.

Increased patrolling

Talking to The Express Tribune, City SP Dr Mustafa Tanveer said security had been beefed up in the city, adding mobile units were continuously patrolling their respective areas especially during school hours.



He said police officials and personnel of the rapid response force were deployed at check posts on Circular Road, Kohat Road and other areas.

The SP further stated emergency numbers were provided to school administrations and they were asked to make these numbers easily visible on campus.

Satisfactory arrangements 

Lady Griffith Government Girls Higher Secondary School Principal Naheed Sayal said the emergency numbers were displayed on the main gate and inside classrooms. “Students have been asked to note down the numbers and contact them in case of an emergency.”

Meanwhile, police resorted to aerial firing outside Science Superior College in Yakatoot when a boy armed with a pistol tried to enter the campus. SP City said police officials asked Noorul Ameen to surrender his pistol. However, when the boy refused, harsh words were exchanged and the police resorted to aerial firing. No one was injured in the incident, he added.

‘Glad to be back’

Like APS, schools opened to students who seemed unfazed and attended classes in droves. Talking to The Express Tribune, Government Higher Secondary School Cantt No-1 student Bashir Ali said he and his friends were enthusiastic about going back to class.

Ali shared his mother was fearful over sending him to school, but he told her he was looking forward to seeing his friends and teachers.

Beaconhouse Cantt Campus student Muhammad Bilal said he had no fear of returning to school. “I was upset at home during my winter vacations and am delighted that my school has reopened.”

Official visits 

K-P Information and Higher Education Minister Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani visited various schools in the morning to check security arrangements. During his visit to the Government Higher Secondary School Cantt No-1, the minister told journalists there were no question marks over the security of schools.

He appreciated the role of the police and said they performed their duties in a diligent manner. He added 65,000 police personnel had been deployed to ensure security at schools throughout the province.

Govt schools yet to reopen

All private schools were opened across Haripur after necessary security measures were taken, but government institutes will resume classes from January 16, official sources said.

However, attendance remained thin as parents were double-minded about sending their kids to schools due to security concerns. There was also confusion over the exact date schools would reopen after the winter break as the local media quoted Haripur DC as saying all schools would reopen from January 16. However, the notification was only for government institutes and all private schools were allowed to resume activity from Monday.

“Around 430 schools were opened on Monday as the DC allowed in a verbal agreement,” claimed Private Education Network President Saleem Khan.

DC Nisar Ahmed could not be reached for comments, however, DPO Khurrum Rasheed said government schools complying with the security protocol would open on January 16.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2015.