KARAK/Timergara: Two students of Bacha Khan University, Charsadda, who were killed in the Wednesday’s militant attack were laid to rest in their ancestral graveyard in Gurguri here on Thursday.

A large number of people, including educationists, students and local politicians, attended the funeral prayers of the slain students identified as Ahmad Kamal, son of Mohammad Kamal, and Mohammad Ilyas, son of Ghulam Ameen, both residents of Gurguri.

They were the final semester BS students of the Management Sciences Department. MPAs Gul Sahib Khan and Deena Naz, elected representatives of local government and people from all walks of life attended the funeral prayers.

The political figures of the district demanded of the government to enhance security of the educational institutions. They expressed deep sorrow over the bloodshed and demanded strict action to eliminate terrorism from the Pakhtun soil.

In Timergara, a large number of local residents, government officials and political activists attended the funeral prayer of Sajjad Anjum, a student of Bacha Khan University, who lost his life in the Charsadda militant attack. Mr Anjum, 22, belonged to Mayar Jandol area of Lower Dir and was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard here on Thursday.

Mr Anjum, son of Saleh Mohammad, was a final year student of Geology Department of the Bacha Khan University. Leaving behind three sisters and two brothers, he belonged to a poor family. His father is a blacksmith and wanted his son to compete his education.

Commandant Dir Task Force Col Khalid Mehmood and ANP leader Bahadar Khan also attended the funeral prayers.

The residents of Jandol held a rally at Mayar and demanded of the government to arrest the facilitators and sympathisers of the killers and punish them. They also demanded adequate security for schools, colleges and universities.

One of Mr Anjum’s school teachers, Lal Faqir, told this correspondent that he began to call him soon after he heard about the attack. “I was getting no response, then I sent him a text message telling him to make contact with his family,” he said, adding that a volunteer of Al-Khidmat Foundation later informed the family about the tragic incident.

Meanwhile, the Awami National Party, Jandol chapter, announced to postpone its Jan 24 protest demonstration against the government.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2016