ANP seeks full implementation of NAP

PESHAWAR: The deadly attack on Bacha Khan University Charsadda, an institution named after the icon of peace and non-violence Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Bacha Khan), on his 28th death anniversary prompted the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to announce three-day and the Awami National Party (ANP) 10-day mourning in the province.

The ANP announced to suspend functions related to the death anniversaries of its two great leaders Bacha Khan and his son Khan Abdul Wali Khan. Black flags would be hoisted at all the offices of the party across the country. The ANP normally arranges week-long functions in different districts of the province to commemorate the death anniversaries of Bacha Khan on January 20 and Wali Khan on January 26.

Besides a big congregation in Tank, a poetic session and a subsequent peace walk was scheduled to be held at the Bacha Khan University on the death anniversary of Bacha Khan. However, the terrorists attacked the university before the start of poetic session and went on a shooting rampage.

The incident drew widespread condemnation. The ANP leaders expressed deep shock and concern over the brazen attack and condemned it. ANP Chief Asfandyar Wali Khan blasted the federal and provincial governments for what he said not taking a bold and brave action all kinds of terrorists and full implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP). “I have repeatedly made it clear to the government that if all the 20 points of NAP are not implemented in letter and spirit, it would be disastrous. Due to the failure of the government, the terrorists have reunited and now they are targeting seats of learning,” he said.

He said it was a matter of shock and sorrow that the terrorists have attacked the university that is named after the leader of the oppressed nations and the Pakhtuns - Bacha Khan. He also criticised the provincial government and said it had left the people at the mercy of the terrorists and was focusing attention more on planting trees than protecting the lives of the people.

Senator Afrasiab Khattak was also of the opinion that the NAP could not be fully implemented. “How many more terrorist attacks will it take to prompt the government to implement to NAP? It should be kept in mind that the “good” terrorists are the main reason behind the attacks,” he said in his comment on his social media account.

A former chief minister Ameer Haider Hoti said that the government couldn’t learn a lesson from the Army Public School tragedy due to which the nation suffered another great loss. He said the provincial government failed to provide security to the education institutions despite the serious threats for the last several days.

Meanwhile, Peshawar University Teachers Association (PUTA) held an emergency meeting to condemn the brutal attack and expressed sympathy with the families of those martyred in the incident. PUTA President Jamil Ahmad Chitrali presided over the meeting.

The participants of the meeting opposed the closure of educational institutions in the name of security threats as it was not a solution to the problem. The said terrorists want to discourage education and closure of educational institutions would encourage the terrorists further.

“Education is the panacea to all ills and the way to eradicate terrorism. We have to keep the educational institutions open to defeat terrorists,” Jamil told the meeting. He stressed stringent security at the educational institution. The students under the aegis of Muttahida Talaba Mahaz staged a protest to condemn the incident.