PESHAWAR: Rumours of terror threats to educational institutions are abound in the provincial capital once again.
It is said that senior police officials have conveyed their concerns to the provincial government and asked it to announce summer vacation in educational institutions earlier than usual.
According to the police, there is no specific threat to any specific institution. However, a communiqué issued by the office of Chief Capital Police Officer Mubarak Zeb Khan has directed all educational institutions to adopt standard operating procedures for security.
Speaking to Daily Times, Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Abbas Majeed Marwat said there was no specific terror threat to any educational institution. However, he said, the police department had beefed up security in the provincial capital and reinforced police patrol at all entry and exit points of the city.
“We regularly visit educational institutions and other important offices, as directed by the provincial police chief. I just had a visit to the Sarhad University,” he maintained. He said the police department had deployed 20 search-and-strike teams consisting of 250 to 300 policemen besides elite and anti-terrorism squads. Every search-and-strike team consists of six to seven policemen, he said. He said that these teams would regularly patrol key areas such as University Road, Dalazak Road and Kohat Road.
Just a week before the attack on the Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, police had received credible intelligence about the Army Public School-like attacks on educational institutions in Peshawar Cantonment and adjoining areas. The reports turned out true except for the attack took place in Charsadda instead of Peshawar. About 30 students and staffers were killed in the attack.
According to security experts, militants are trying to spread fear in the city and they have succeeded in their plans by creating that atmosphere. They say that militants are trying to hit soft targets instead of going after the hard ones.
“Schools and colleges are the easiest of targets,” a teacher said. “We are not fighters. We are teachers and supposed to impart knowledge and this cannot happen in an atmosphere of fear. Teachers and students both need protection and the government and the law enforcement must provide it. They are, in fact, meant to ensure our security,” he said. The first and the most brutal of all terrorist attacks took place on December 16, 2014. Around half a dozen armed terrorists forced their entry into the army run school on Warsak Road in Peshawar and killed 134 students and 18 staff members, including three soldiers.
The security situation in the city has worsened in the last two months and the reported threats to educational institutions have added to the woes of the parents.