KP adopts participatory arrangements to secure educational institutions

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police would be adopting participatory security arrangements mechanism together with the management of educational institutions to ensure adequate security to millions of students and teachers amid the fresh threats.

In Peshawar, special units of the Quick Response Force, Anti-Terrorist Squad and Elite Force have been deployed on the University Road, Warsak Road, Saddar, Circular Road, Inqilab Road, Hayatabad and other areas to respond immediately in case of any help needed by universities, colleges or schools, either in the public or private sector.

“All the superintendents of police and their deputies have been directed to complete security audit of each and every institution by Tuesday. Those having poor security arrangements will be properly charged for not protecting the lives of students and teachers despite charging high fees,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Abbas Majeed Marwat told The News.

The Capital City Police had charged owners and principals of 52 educational institutions for inadequate security on Saturday. More are to be booked in the coming days.

“We will write to the government for their arrest too in case of continuous violation of the security instructions,” stated the SSP Operations, who took charge of his office a couple of weeks ago. He informed that there are 64,000 educational institutions and 68,000 cops in the province.

“It’s not possible to provide policemen to every school so we are looking for participatory security arrangements mechanism to do the job together with the management of schools and colleges,” added Abbas Majeed Marwat.

After the attack on the Army Public School in December 2014, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police had started providing basic training to male and female teachers to handle weapons and assist the authorities in case of an attack.

Criticism from all over the country led to the winding up of the project within no time. The process, however, continued for some time in the tribal areas and other provinces.

Senior police officials have visited the Islamia College University, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University and a number of colleges and public and private universities to inspect the security arrangements after recent threats hurled by the militants to educational institutions. Militants had warned that the attack on the Bacha Khan University in Charsadda on January 20 was just the beginning.

“We will provide permits to those in need so they can better arm their guards to counter any attack. Patrolling has also been increased,” said the SSP Operations.

The police officers, during the inspection of educational institutions, expressed concerns over the insufficient measures adopted by the majority of the schools for their buildings as well as buses and vans used for transporting students and teachers. The fresh warning has caused a high level of anxiety among parents.

“We will not stop sending our kids to schools and will not complete the agenda of those who want to keep us illiterate. However, as a mother I will be worried throughout till they return safe and sound,” said Ayesha, mother of two sons and a daughter.

Some of the private educational institutions have already increased their security following the recent threats that resulted in closure of schools in Peshawar Saddar for a day or more.

“We have arranged a few guns and deployed a couple of armed guards to keep an eye on suspicious people. However, it is hard to continue this practice for long as it is having a negative impact on students,” said Amjad Khan, owner of a private school in Faqirabad.

Some of the students have already refused going to school. The majority of the students and parents, however, believe that the threats are meant to stop kids from going to schools, colleges and universities.