It's been about 16 months since a terror attack in which 132 school children were killed by Tehrik-e-Taliban in Peshawar. At that time, Pakistan government had decided to suppress religious institutes that are recruiting students for terrorism and sheer violence. Pakistan Government also said that they will put efforts to curb Taliban. But it all seems just false promises.
Peshawar attack. Image Source: Reuters
On one hand the Pakistan Government promises to curb all religious institute recruiting students for terrorism and on the other hand they promote them. Recently, Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government announced giving $3 million to Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary, also known as Univerity of Jihad. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa leaders stated that the grant was needed to keep Jihad University operational.
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"I am proudly announcing that Darul Uloom Haqqania Nowshera will get 300 million rupees to meet its annual expenditures," Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister Shah Farman said in an assembly quoting to PTI.
Mustaq Ghani said that this grant will mainstream the 'University of Jihad' and this is a part of the expanded amendment of that 3 million Pakistani students learn in more than one lakh madrassas.
Mushtaq Ghani, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's information minister (Source: PPI)
"A large number of students study, live and eat in this seminary, and it's doing great service for the poor people," Mushtaq Ghani, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's information minister, quoted in an interview with The Washington Post.
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University of Jihad was founded in 1947 and is famous for training, nurture rebels who prevented the invasion of Afghanistan by Soviet Union. Jihad University currently had registered 4000 students and provide housing facilities to them.
Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Imran Khan (Source: Reuters)
Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Imran Khan, instead of opposing; was found supporting the move. He praised the government by stating that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had made a wise decision. He also conferred that this will prevent the students from radicalization.
However, this move is being opposed by the citizens of Pakistan, especially on the grounds of Peshawar massacre. "The Taliban are killing our children, and our government is giving money to their sympathizers," said Shahi Syed, a Pakistani senator quoting to the Washington Post.
Many critics are opposing the move and are confused whether Pakistan can be trusted as a partner in global fight of terrorism.
-prepared by Aparna Gupta, an intern with NewsGram. Twitter @writetoaparna99
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