PESHAWAR: The Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, where militants killed 21 students and teachers last week, reopened briefly on Monday as the administration held a session to review the security situation before resumption of academic activities.
During the session, presided over by the varsity’s vice chancellor, it was decided that academic activities on campus will not commence until provision of adequate security.
BKU spokesman Saeed Khan told media that the university administration demanded deployment of Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers in and around the campus, deployment of sharp shooters, provision of licensed weapons to faculty members and other staff, raising of campus’s boundary walls and installation of CCTV cameras before regular academic activities begin.
“We have closed it for an indefinite time because the attack has had traumatic effect on the students,” the university spokesperson confirmed. He said the students required some time off due to the traumatic effects of the incident, adding parents were also not ready to send their students to the varsity. “There has also been damage to the building, which needs repair,” added the spokesperson.
The spokesman said that another meeting of the university’s administration will be held next week to decide the future course of action.
“We have demanded weapons from the government and weapons licenses for all teachers and management officials,” Bacha Khan university registrar Hamidullah Khan said.
He said the campus had been reopened Monday but only to administrative staff, with classes suspended indefinitely as authorities seek to improve security. “Students wanted to resume the classes,” he said. “We appreciate their courage, but we now cannot take any risk on security.” Teachers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have permission to carry firearms after the TTP massacred at least 144 people, the majority of them children, at Peshawar’s Army Public School (APS) in December 2014.
Meanwhile, at least 200 students gathered on the grounds of the university on Monday after the gates opened, shouting slogans against both the government and the Taliban.
“You must protect us!” they shouted, while also vowing to continue their education despite the threats.
“Some people aren’t going to the university today as they have serious concerns about the incident and their personal security and that of the students,” a teacher at the university said, on condition of anonymity. Students and teachers were being screened by police and security guards at the entrance to the campus on Monday.