Woman Professor's brutal murder by savages condemned

            It is absolutely comprehensible that why the law-enforcing agencies are being attacked daily everywhere in the Country but it is beyond the comprehension of a prudent person that why the unarmed teachers are being killed.

            Killing is a heinous crime but it gets aggravation when the killing is of a teacher and a woman. Teachers are generally called “builders of nation”. When an enemy becomes determined to kill your builders, it means that your enemy is more crafty and dangerous and you should come forward against him with sufficient offensive and defensive tactics.

            Man without knowledge is animal but is more than that as has been declared by the Holy Qura’n. The enemy is trying to frighten the “builders of nation” but they are doing their job like doing a “Jihad” against the enemies of the nation. They know that man is to die one day then why not to face it like a hero. As it is said that this incident is third of its kind; but the brave woman had not lost her courage on the death of two other Professors.

            Beside to insecurity, the incident also shows us that the financial position of this teacher is that her death occurs in a Rickshaw despite serving in the University for 23 years. The remarks of the president of the Balochistan chapter of Pakistan People’s Party, Senator Lashkari Raisani, that the government had failed to protect the life of teachers in the province are significant but the Senator is not freed from all liabilities by saying so much.

            I am of the opinion that the worst sufferer is the common man of Balochistan in this game of killings and allegations. Who is the real culprit, Allah knows better but one thing is clear that protection of teachers is not typical and that is why they are vulnerable to the attackers and they are targeted as an easy prey.

            She was really a courageous woman to serve in Balochistan in such like condition when many men had left the area due to turbulence. She died but left bravery behind her like Benazir Bhutto. My wife (who is herself a teacher) says to me that I have special sympathy and respect for the women but I have more than that for such like women who face deaths in the accomplishment of their tasks. I saw many men and leaders of the parties who left the ground when they sensed the danger to their lives and came back when the atmosphere became favourable.

            She faced martyrdom but left a lesson not only to women but also to men that do the right job and believe in Allah who is the ultimate JUDGE in every case. The touchstone for judging the rightness or wrongness is the law of Allah and when the conscience guides a person that his act is according the precepts of Allah then he should continue.

            Her profession and gallantry should be the model for the rest of the people in the teaching profession. At the same time, it is the responsibility of the Government to give accommodation inside the University properly safeguarded otherwise all the teachers would face the same treatment one by one.

Manzoor Ahmad Yousafzai

Wednesday, 28 April 2010

QUETTA, April 27: A woman professor of Balochistan University was gunned down here on Tuesday.

Nazima Talib was travelling in a rickshaw when two masked men on a motorcycle opened fire on her on the Sariab road.

Police said Ms Nazima received two bullets in her head and was taken to the Civil Hospital in critical condition, but she died before getting any medical treatment.

CCPO Shabbir Sheikh said it was probably a case of target killing.

The body of Ms Nazima was sent to Karachi for burial.

A spokesman for Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for Ms Nazima’s killing. He told reporters on phone that it was a reaction to the killing of two Baloch women in Quetta and Pasni and torturing of women political workers in Mand and Tump.

Nazima Talib had been teaching in the Balochistan University for 23 years and at present was an assistant professor in the mass communication department. She joined the university in 1987 when the department was established.

The 50-year-old professor was also a poet and short story writer. She is survived by a son. She lived in the girls’ hostel of the university because her son is studying in Karachi.

The administration of Balochistan University has announced that the university will remain closed on Wednesday. The president of Academic Staff Association, Kalimullah Barrech, however, announced a three-day mourning and boycott of classes in protest against the killing.

The president of the Balochistan chapter of Pakistan People’s Party, Senator Lashkari Raisani, condemned the killing of the professor, saying the government had failed to protect the life of teachers in the province.

Announcing a three-day mourning, he said the law and order situation in the province was being disturbed under a conspiracy.

Mr Raisani criticised the PPP-led coalition government in Balochistan, alleging that most ministers spent a big chunk of their time in Islamabad.