Awkum announces one-week mourning over Charsadda attack

MARDAN: Management of Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan (Awkum) has vowed to defend the university against any attack or threat.

Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Ihsan Ali chaired a meeting, which reviewed overall security of Awkum and discussed suggestions to beef up security. The meeting, attended by heads of all departments, prayed for the victims of Wednesday’s attack on Bacha Khan University and decided to observe a week of mourning in the memory.

They said each department and unit of Awkum would take concrete measures for security enhancement. The staff will be trained and equipped to defend their university in case of an attack, said a press release.

The university will regularly organise special training and drills for its staff and students in preparation for security challenges, natural disasters and emergencies. “These are our universities, our land and our country, we will defend ourselves and our institutions,” said Dr Ihsan Ali.

The Awkum vice-chancellor, who is also founder of Bacha Khan University, said: “Only the police or army cannot defend us, we have to take the ownership and defend our children and institutions. We are not going anywhere.”

Dr Ihsan Ali reached Bacha Khan University soon after the attack. He told Awkum staff about the heroic role of Bacha Khan University’s security guards. It was one of the security guards who started firing at the attackers after he spotted them crossing the back side boundary wall of the university.

Due to the guard’s firing, the four terrorists could not go towards the examination hall or the university canteen, which were full of students. The security guards managed to restrict the terrorists to the university hostel and kept them engaged until the re-enforcements arrived there and killed the terrorists. Dr Ihsan Ali appreciated the bravery and professionalism displayed by the security guards of Bacha Khan University.