Over a thousand schools have been attacked by militants and other criminal elements in just the past three years, which should be a matter of far greater concern for Islamabad and the provinces. Even Supreme Court Justice Qazi Faez Isa has criticised the state’s failure on this count, reminding attendees at a recent seminar in Islamabad that education is supposed to be a fundamental right under the constitution, yet such attacks continue — strongly implying how the state’s failure to provide security to students means that children are effectively denied this fundamental right.
Justice Isa made another notable remark at the seminar that relates to several social issues, including education. Quoting Rumi, he said “ignorant men dominate women” as he made a point about equality and inclusivity that is guaranteed in Islam and how society would benefit if people actually followed these practices, rather than allowing their ignorance to dominate. To return to the same verses from Rumi’s Masnavi, the Sufi icon refers to ignorant men as animals that “have no kindness, gentleness, or love,” because “love and kindness are human attributes.”
Unfortunately, the dominance of such men, not only over our women, but our society in general, continues to hold us back as a country, as this is what creates the divisions and backwardness that keep the country from unifying for progress and success. But despite the country’s strengthened resolve against militants in the wake of the 2014 APS attack, terrorist attacks on schools and students quickly began being treated as an unfortunate but unstoppable eventuality by law enforcers and policymakers, who have failed for years to take the appropriate measures to secure schools. Why else would thousands of children need to protest in the streets of various cities every few weeks to demand something as simple as security? https://tribune.com.pk/story/2390781/risking-life-for-education
