By Aamir Latif
KARACHI, Pakistan
Since more than 140 people, mostly children, were killed by the Taliban at a school in Pakistan's city of Peshawar in December, the government, authorities and schools have increasingly sought to implement new security measures.
Of the most controversial has been the move for schools to defend themselves while waiting for security forces to respond; not just with security guards but with teachers being permitted to carry firearms and now, firearm training provided to students.
There have been hundreds of schools and colleges given "anti-terrorism" training by security forces across the country in recent weeks, with police claiming they are receiving increasing requests for training sessions.
“We have trained over 350 students from different schools and colleges, while requests from some 40 educational institutions are pending,” said Tahira Tariq, a spokesperson for the Special Security Unit of Karachi police. “We have developed proper training modules, which includes weapon awareness, and escape and evasion tactics, for students.”
For many of the students it seems they have taken the course not for safety reasons and without much consideration for long-term implications.
“Not only have I seen a gun in real life for the first time, but I have actually used it too,” said 15-year-old Maryam Hussein, who was one of the first participants from her Karachi-based private school.
“ I just can’t believe that what I have just done. Previously, I have just seen this in the movies,” said the visibly excited teenager.
Fatima Yousaf, a student of NED University of Engineering and Technology Karachi, was equally enthusiastic after taking the course.
“It was a great experience. Holding a gun, loading it and then pulling the trigger. I loved it.”
She recognized that she still would not be allowed to carry a gun on campus "But at least I know what does a gun look like and how does it operate. This is enough to boost my confidence,” she said.
The move to train students, and especially school children, has drawn a mixed reaction in Pakistan; while many are alarmed by the idea, others feel it has become an unfortunate necessity.
“I understand that weapons are not something to be promoted. But in the environment our children are living in, it has become a compulsion, especially after the Peshawar attack,” said Masooma Shahid, whose daughter participated in one of the training courses. “If the students had been trained about how to escape such terrorist attacks, many lives could have been saved.”
“More than that, it will increase their confidence levels, which will help them, especially girls, in regard to daily life issues like harassment or bullying,” she said.
Jamal Nasir, the deputy registrar of the Karachi-based NED University of Engineering and Technology, which took part in a training course, said the training is about more than learning to use firearms.
“This is not all about use of weapons. A couple of days training cannot enable students to handle firearms. It’s just to increase their level of confidence,” he said. “We are training them how to act and save their lives in case of a terrorist attack (...) this includes snap checking, fire drills, hide and run, and other skills to save your life in case of a terrorist attack.”
Dr Khalid Shah, the chairman of the All Pakistan Private Schools Association, however, said the idea is "completely incomprehensible."
"Certainly, the students will not be allowed to carry guns to schools or universities, then how and where they will use this training?” said Shah. “On the one hand, teachers have been allowed to carry guns, and now students, including school children are getting training to use arms. Where are we going?"
Shah described the training as a waste of time and resources and said the government should instead provide schools with more resources for bolstering security.
“The elite and army-run schools already have arranged security for their students. The problem is with schools operating in middle and lower income areas. They cannot afford security expenses,” he said.
Retired General Talat Msood, an Islamabad-based security analyst, also dismissed the idea that firearm training would make students safer.
“This will not help in any way to improve security situation. It seems if the government is transferring its responsibilities to individuals or groups, which is very dangerous,” said Masood. “I am a military person but I will never support the idea of arms training for school children or even college and university students. It is simply tantamount to promoting gun-culture in the society.”
