Islamic International University Islamabad (IIUI) on Thursday remembered the victims-eight students and one employee- who lost their lives in the twin bomb blasts at the gate of the women’s cafeteria of the campus on October 20, 2009. A large number of students and staff members gathered at the blast site and lit candles in memory of the victims and offered prayers for the departed’s souls. IIUI Rector Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik, Vice President IIUI Dr Sahibzada Sajidur Rehman, Female Campus Director Professor Qaiserah M Alvi, and Student Advisor and Provost Dr Sadia Tahir, were also present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, Malik said the incident was a terrifying disaster, which would have everlasting marks on people’s memories. This was the first time that militants had targeted female students and a prestigious Islamic educational institution. He announced that the IIUI would continue its march towards Islamic humanism and Islamic liberalism which were the main targets of the bomb blasts.
He admired the students for showing courage and unity by proving enduring in their contribution to their studies. He also thanked the government of Pakistan for paying compensation to the victims of the bomb blasts. Alvi paid tributes to the departed souls and appreciated the courage of those injured. At the end Rehman led “Fateha” for the victims and prayed for the departed souls. Students lit candles and shower flowers to remember their colleagues. Students demanded the Islamabad police to trace out the plotters of the said twin blasts. They were of the view that two years had passed, but police was still clueless about the planner of the twin blasts that claimed innocent lives. Those who laid their lives down due to the bomb blasts were: Aamna Tahir, Tayyaba Hina, Amna Batool, Hina Nawaz, Aqsa Malik, Sidra Khalid, Hafiz Nafees Anjum, Hafiz Khalil ur Rehman and Pervez Masih.
IIUI remembers suicide blast victims
