Pakistan University reopens 5 days after militant attack

Bacha Khan University in Pakistan’s north-western town of Charsadda reopened amid tight security on Monday (January 25), after last week’s deadly terrorist attack that killed 20 people.

Armed militants stormed the university in volatile north-western Pakistan on Wednesday (January 20), killing at least 20 people and wounding dozens, a little more than a year after the massacre of 134 students at a school in the area, officials said.

Many of the dead were apparently shot in the head execution-style, TV footage showed.

A senior Pakistani Taliban commander claimed responsibility for the assault in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, but an official spokesman later denied involvement, calling the attack “un-Islamic”.

The violence nevertheless shows that militants retain the ability to launch attacks, despite a country-wide anti-terrorism crackdown and a military campaign against their strongholds along the lawless border with Afghanistan.

Strict security was in place as buses carrying students and staff arrived at the university on Monday (January 25).

On Sunday (January 24), Vice-Chancellor of the Bacha Khan University, Fazal Rahim said the university would reopen for staff on Monday and that classes will resume shortly.

The staff said they were not scared and that they will fight back militants.

“We will continue to come (to the university). We are neither scared nor we will retreat. God willing, we will confront them (the terrorists). God forbid, no such incident repeats in future, but if it does, we will not back out, but challenge them,” said Alamgir, administration officer at the university.

A condolence meeting was held at the main auditorium of the university where teachers, students and other staff offered prayers for the victims and those injured in the attack. Teachers and staff recited the holy Koran for the victims.

“The students who met me are saying that no one can frighten them. It comes from the male students you might have seen, the female students here. We just held recital of holy Koran for the departed souls. Our sympathies and prayers are with the grieving families,” said Fazal Rahim, vice chancellor of Bacha Khan university.

Although classes did not resume formally, some students were seen sitting in classrooms.

“We are not scared. We are used to come over here. We also came today and we will continue to come over here in the future. Nothing can scare us. We will leave after completing our education,” said an unidentified female student.

Students also held a protest against the militant attack demanding the government to provide them with protection.

“Either give us protection or leave the government”, the protesters shouted.

Despite the return to staff and some students, it was decided at a meeting held under the vice chancellor to close the university for an indefinite period for repair and maintenance work and to beef up security.

The militants, using the cover of thick, wintry fog, scaled the walls of the university on Wednesday morning before entering buildings and opening fire on students and teachers in classrooms and hostels, police said.

Students told media they saw several young men wielding AK-47 guns storming the university housing where many students were sleeping.