Islamia College Peshawar was known to be one of the premier institutions of higher education in Pakistan, with a strong focus on Islamic studies, as well as social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities, the alumni of which include many of the country’s leading scholars, politicians, and intellectuals, sadly is going through a dark era.
Islamia College Peshawar was founded in 1913 by Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum, a philanthropist, and politician from the North West Frontier Province of British India. The college was established to promote Islamic values and education in the region and also to provide modern education to the Muslim youth of the area at a time when education was largely dominated by British colonial authorities.
The college quickly became a leading institution of higher education in the region, attracting some of the best students and teachers from across the country. Many of its alumni went on to become prominent figures in politics, education, and the arts.
During the partition of India in 1947, the college faced significant challenges as many of its students and teachers migrated to India or other parts of Pakistan. However, the college managed to regroup and continue its educational mission, expanding its academic programs and establishing new departments and faculties.
Today, with regular student and faculty protests, frequent robberies, and occasional murders, the colleges have lost their appeal to prospective students and have, in no time, turned into sites of widespread social chaos.
According to the President of the Peshawar University Teachers Association, Dr. Muhammad Uzair, poor administrative structures, and inadequate vigilance are paramount factors behind the worsening law and order atmosphere on the campuses. “The administration does not monitor the conduct of classes nor does it guarantee the availability of the 350 members of the teaching faculty,” said Uzair. “Nor does the vigilance invest in installing modern surveillance equipment, like security cameras, to keep a check on student activity and curb the crime rate,” he added.
