Attack on Malakand University fails to scare students, faculty

[LahoreEstate]

Monday, March 23, 2009
By Delawar Jan

PESHAWAR: The deadly attack on the University of Malakand in Chakdara town of Lower Dir district with threat of more such attempts in future failed to keep the nearly 3,000 students away from studies there.

Equally determined is the teaching and administrative staff members, who are struggling to continue disseminating knowledge to future nation builders from this backward and mountainous region.

“The morale of our students is high despite the attack and they have been attending their classes as before,” the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Dr Muhammad Rasool Jan, said. He said that BA, B.Sc examinations from first to eighth term were in progress, adding that the attack had not affected the process of examinations.

The vice-chancellor also said the students of masters programmes were also taking classes regularly and unhindered. It shows the resolve of the students to carry on their education despite serious threats.

“Let me make it crystal clear that the attack has not broken our resolve to continue the process of education here. Before the incident, I used to come at 9 in the morning but now I reach my office at 8:30 am to send a strong message that we are not scared,” he added.

The vice-chancellor claimed that after the incident, he had started visiting hostels during nights to boost the morale of students. “Even female students are in high spirits despite the threats,” he remarked.

The university was attacked by 40-60 heavily armed militants on Wednesday, killing four police officials and a guard. Officials of the university said that another attempt to attack this educational institution was also made on Thursday but the guards warded it off.

The university, he resolved, would not be closed as he enjoyed the support of the government and local people. “I thank the people of Dir and (Adenzai) Amn Jirga for extending support. People have declared it an attack on their honour and offered to provide volunteers for the security of the university. I am not alone at this critical juncture,” he said.

It could not be ascertained as to why the militants have been bent upon targeting this nascent seat of learning. When asked, Muhammad Rasool said that the government had arrested some of the militants involved in attack on the university and should properly question them to know the reasons. “It’s now the responsibility of the government to unearth the elements and motives behind this attack and stop such happenings in future,” he said and hastened to add that the university vehicles had not been returned yet.

About the security steps for the university after the attack, he said that no educational institution was ready to fend off such attacks.

However, he said that some measures had been taken to beef up security while others were underway.

“We have placed a request with the government through district coordination officer and Malakand commissioner to deploy scouts at the campus,” he added.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=168652