Same story, different day, say KU students

Security measures back to the usual low standards.

KARACHI: The cynical predictions of Karachi University students came true when just six days after a bomb exploded on campus, the ‘stringent’ security measures had already fallen apart.

“You don’t even have to show your ID card, just wave the ribbon of the card and the guard will let you pass,” said Arshad, an International Relations student in the university. He said that the student passes for vehicles were only suspended for a day and from the very next day, all vehicles including cars, motorcycles of students as well as random rickshaws were being allowed inside.

Rameez, who is studying geography, said that the students were used to seeing security fall flat soon after student clashes took place on campus but they had thought that maybe a bomb blast might be treated differently. “Do they even know the meaning of security? Increasing the number of indifferent guards is not it,” he said sarcastically.

“It’s like nobody cares-the administration, government or the media,” said an indignant Madiha Khawar, a final year student of economics. She said that the explosion was not a small issue but nobody was taking it seriously. The young woman felt her student life was in a crisis since her parents do not want her to complete her Masters at KU. “It’s not about whether I feel secure, it is about my parents who are saying that I should drop out now,” she said.

Meanwhile, students were critical of the ordinary security measures in place. Hadia Khalil, a student at the department of mass communication, said that the card system is very unsatisfactory. Anyone who has contacts within the management can get a student card made and pose as an enrolled student.  Another student, Hira Farooqui, complained about the various ways of getting into the university. There are not just the three gates but multiple routes into the university and people can enter anytime without even getting noticed, she said.

The teachers also admit to the security lapse-and in some ways, even more than the students because several faculty members live on campus.

Calling KU “a university without walls”, Dr Fateh Mohammad Burfat, a professor in the sociology department, said that there is no security possible without proper walls, barricades and rules and regulations.  Accusing the management, he said it is a complete failure on the part of the people who are responsible for security. He compared the university’s security to the NED University of Engineering and Technology’s security arrangements and said that NED has a far better system. Not only do they have guards and a proper identification system, they also have strict rules for students, he said.

The professor said that the worst part about the system was that the management allows political parties to establish their strongholds among students inside the campus. “What is even more appalling is that they have designated spaces and benches,” he added.  He said that the existing student groups are not student unions but political parties. He maintained that it is a breach of the university’s law since at the time of enrollment, every student is made to fill and sign an affidavit, along with their parents and two witnesses, that he/she will not make any political affiliations.

He said the law and order situation is so bad that he himself has been mugged inside the campus, when he was coming from the IBA gate towards the residential side. “Even the staff colony is not safe and we all know that whoever is managing to get inside has some connections with the university,” he accused.

Meanwhile, Professor Kaleem Raza Khan, KU Registrar, denied that there was any security lapse. “Only for the last three days it may not have been as tight as it should be but it [security] is there nonetheless,” he said. But if any of the staff is ignoring instructions on security measures then he will be sure to take action, Khan promised.

The low-intensity explosion took place on December 28 near the main cafeteria of the faculties of arts and sciences and injured at least four students.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2011.