ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Saleem Hussain Bangash, President of Mukhtar Students Organisation, Sarhad (NWFP) Province while strongly condemning the firing incident on a school van in Hangu has demanded from the government to take immediate steps to recover the kidnapped students, arrest the culprits forthwith and give them exemplary punishment.

Addressing a Press Conference at National Press Club Islamabad along with other office-bearers on Saturday, he expressed grave concern that at present Pakistan is surrounded by the enemy from all around, new tactics are being used in the garb of Bombay incidents, every part of the country is crying with wounds, dozens of people were martyred in many suicide incidents including attacks on Matmi procession in Dera Ghazi Khan and the funeral procession of Dera Ismail Khan MFP Commander Sher Zaman Shaheed while dozens of them are still lying injured in different hospitals.

Earlier, he said, murderous attack was carried out against TNFJ Regional Nazim-ul-Umoor Maqbool Jawwad in Dera Ismail Khan, TNFJ Provincial Vice-President in Peshawar Agha Abbas Ali Kiani while a personality of Peshawar Sardar Ali Baba was martyred through firing. These incidents were alive in memories when a school van was fired at on its way from Hangu to Astarzai at Bahadur Banday in which the driver was martyred while many students were injured and some of them were kidnapped, he added. Similarly, a student was slaughtered in Hangu the other day which is condemnable and inhuman act.

He said incidents of terrorism have become the order of the day in Sarhad (N.W.F.P) which are the result of wrong policies of the previous Provincial Government. He said the whole province is under the grip of fear and harassment and no day passes without any incident. He said those who could not protect the people or restore law and order have no justification to remain in government.

Commenting on the current political situation in the country, he made it clear that protest is the basic right and Azadari is the biggest protest against oppression and brutality. He appealed the government and the political parties to adopt the policy of mutual understanding because the country at present could not afford strikes, violence and protests.

Lauding the Swat peace agreement, he stressed the need to continue such efforts in other areas also in the larger interest of the nation so as to turn the whole country into a hub of peace.

He demanded from the government to ensure effective implementation of Anti-Terrorism Act so as to root out terrorism and set up a high level tribunal to probe such incidents and check those who kidnap the people and make them hostage.

He said the kidnapped students should be set free and the injured should be treated while people should be compensated for their losses. He demanded special security arrangements for educational institutions and students so that students could continue their educational activities in peace.

Stressing the need of making security arrangements for Majalis and Matmi processions to be taken out till 8th Rabiul Awwal, and later the Milad-un-Nabi processions, Mahafils and programmes so that all schools of thought could participate in the same and display practical mutual unity and brotherhood.

Saleem Bangash said that the decision of terming the third division holders as fail is not good and would create problems for students of far-flung areas. The MSO NWFP students displayed protest Matmi demonstration after the Press Conference and raised slogans against terrorism. They were carrying banners and placards inscribed with different slogans demanding arrest of the culprits and condemning terrorism. Later, they dispersed peacefully raising vociferous slogans.