Punjab University students suffering & IJT activists
Nearly 30,000 PU students paying for Punjab govt's stubbornness
Lahore, Apr 12: The Punjab government's stubbornness in playing the part of a silent
spectator – despite several appeals by Punjab University Vice
Chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran to the Punjab chief minister – has at last
forced the country's largest seat of learning to shut its doors on
nearly 30,000 students. More than 30,000 PU students and
hundreds of teachers have been forced to acknowledge that the Islami
Jamiat Taliba (IJT) is not only above the law, but it is also above
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Even 11 days after the brutal
attack on PU Disciplinary Committee Chairman Iftikhar Baloch, the
government has not arrested a single IJT activist who had been
nominated in the first information report of the case. Interestingly,
IJT activists are still threatening the victim professor and his
colleagues. It is sad that at a time when the whole world condemned the
incident and termed it a 'black day in the teaching profession's
history', the CM did not even bother to visit the university. Escape
arrest: The government tried to score some points and prove its critics
wrong by launching a search operation in the varsity, however, the
culprits 'miraculously' managed to escape from the police party. Black
day: Separately, the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic
Staff Association (FAPUSA) – which has its representatives in 55
universities of the country – are observing a black day to condemned
the Punjab government for not acting against the IJT activists who had
attacked Dr Iftikhar. According to the association, the provincial
government's lack of interest was responsible for forcing PU to shut
its doors for thousands of students and for forcing the teachers to
boycott all academic activities. They also blamed the government as
being responsible for the postponement of exams in around 72
departments of the varsity. "Today, teachers from around 55 public
sector universities of the country, by observing a black day, showed
the Punjab CM that teachers would not let the issue go until the UJT
activists responsible for the arrest on the professor," FAPUSA
President Dr Maher Saeed Akhtar said. The incident in question took
place on April 1, when around two dozes IJT activists attacked Dr
Iftikhar in his office. The IJT's – a wing of the
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) – has had a history of violence since the creation
of Pakistan. The most notorious time in the group's history was during
the reign of General Ziaul Haq, which saw IJT activists setting up
torture cells in PU for those who opposed their 'Islamic agenda'. These
activists were so influential during that time that having taken up
jobs in PU departments and administration, we now see that around 70
percent of the teachers at the university are affiliated with the IJT.
These activists are actively promoting Talibanisation by forcefully
closing down shops during prayer times, banning the sale of
multinational items in canteens, using weapons against students,
banning any musical activity in the varsity and attacking any male
student who 'dares' sit with any girl. Several governments have come
and gone, but none tried to cap the IJT's activities. Those who
actually tried eventually failed since the group has the backing of the
JI. With no hope left, students have decided to take the matter into
their own hands and have decided that the attack on Dr Iftikhar was the
last straw. Two years ago, a group of students came together and formed
the University Students Federation (USF), consisting of elements of the
Imamia Students Organisation (ISF), National Students Federation (NSF),
Anjuman Taliba Islam and some students from Gilgit-Baltistan. They all
stood united with an aim to rid the varsity of the IJT. The
movement gained significant momentum soon afterwards, when hundreds of
students took out a rally against the IJT for manhandling Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaaf chief Imran Khan on his arrival at the varsity. The
students' movement woke a slumbering giant, as soon afterwards they
were joined by several organizations of various institutes as well as
the civil society. Meanwhile, the IJT activists responded by inviting
its activists from the tribal areas, who resorted to using arms and
weapons against USF members, but the students continued their movement,
prompting the PU administration to expel a number of IJT activists who
were involved in various cases. The university also prepared profiles
of IJT's culprits and lodged first information reports. It is a
positive sign that teachers, known to be affiliated with the IJT, have
distanced themselves from the group and have condemned their
activities. Now in these circumstances, when teachers are observing a
black day against the IJT, it falls on the CM to decide as to whether
he will address this concern or hand over the varsity to IJT activists
who assault teachers.
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Scandal-prone PU readmits IJT activist expelled in 2006
Lahore: Seemingly, making headlines is the least of the Punjab University's
(PU) concerns, as the varsity has been hit by yet another scandal that
has exposed its faculty members illegally promoting Islami Jamiat Talba
(IJT) activists. A seven-member committee of the PU Institute of
Communication Studies (ICS) has readmitted a former nazim of the IJT
who was dropped from the programme in 2006. By readmitting
former IJT nazim Ahmad Abu Bakar to the ICS programme, the ICS
committee blatantly violated the PU semester rules and went against the
university calendar regulations, which state that " In case of a valid
reason, the period of the study will be extended for one additional
year and the students who do not complete studies within the stated
period shall be automatically dropped from the programme". Bakar's
readmission came as a shock to PU teachers and students, who said the
decision was made by 'bypassing' concerned authorities. In violation of
university rules, the ICS – through a planned committee – has allowed
Bakar to rejoin the ICS programme in the 2010 session when he had
dropped from the same programme during the 3rd semester of the 2007-08
session. Further, the IJT activist is pursuing a Masters degree at the
PU Political Science Department at the same time. PU rules clearly
state that no student can pursue two different courses in the same year. Tricked:
Dr Afirah Hamid – the ICS examination coordinator and one of those who
approved Bakar's readmission – accepted that the student had been
readmitted in violation of university rules and alleged that the ICS
director had 'tricked her' into signing Bakar's readmission papers. She
claimed that the former nazim's name was not on the meeting agenda and
she found out later that the papers signed by her and the committee
members were Bakar's readmission documents. Afirah said all three
female members of the committee were against his readmission and had
strongly protested against it. She claimed she had even gotten into an
argument with the ICS director who said, "He had the authority to do
anything he wanted". However, ICS Director Dr Ahsan Akhtar Naz claimed
that all members of the committee discussed the issue and approved the
admission of the former IJT nazim. Cheating: Bakar was dropped
during the 3rd semester in 2006 because he was found guilty of cheating
during exams. He was supposed to join the programme the following year
but he did not do so, citing medical reasons. A semester committee held
on March 6, 2008 reviewed Bakar's application, in which he requested
that he be allowed to re-sit the examination. After a thorough analysis
of the case, the committee decided to drop Bakar from the institute and
cancelled his enrollment due to 'non-serious attitude' towards studies. According
to sources, after the decision, Bakar sued the university in the Lahore
High Court (LHC) on June 26, 2009. Sources said the ICS administration
was worried over the case, and therefore struck a verbal deal, allowing
Bakar to rejoin the ICS programme in exchange of his withdrawing the
case. The ICS Examination Committee meeting that formally
allowed Bakar to rejoin the programme was held on January 30, 2010 in
the office of the ICS director. Naz was the committee chairman and
other members included Dr Bushra Rehman, Dr Nosheen Saleem, Abida Ejaz,
Shafique Ahmad Kamboh, Khalid Rashid and Muhammad Jamil. All the
members signed Bakar's readmission papers including Afirah, the
convener of the previous committee meeting where the student was
dropped from the institute. Action: PU Public Relations
Director Khawaja Tahir Jamil claimed he had no knowledge of the issue
and was not a competent authority to comment on the matter. However, a
PU official said the PU vice chancellor had taken notice of the issue
and would soon take action. The official, requesting anonymity, said
Bakar's readmission might lead to hundreds of expelled students
demanding the varsity to grant them the same ' illegal favour' and
readmit them to the university. Daily times
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IJT-police nexus behind PU unrest
Lahore: "The government will ensure the sanctity of teachers and educational institutions." "The teachers are an asset to the nation and the government is taking measures for the welfare of teachers." "Every
effort will be made to bring about a positive change in the lives of
teachers and ensuring them due status in the society." Such are
the statements made quite frequently by our rulers and politicians.
However, they seem empty rhetoric when we see the treatment meted out
to teachers in real life. The latest unfortunate episode
involving the thrashing of a senior teacher of the Punjab University
(PU) by the activists of the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) not only
exposed Jamiat's brutality yet again but also unearthed the alleged
nexus between the Punjab Police (PP) and culprits. This is
what one exactly understands from a letter written by PU
Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran to Punjab Chief Minister
Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif on April 2, 2010, a day after Prof Dr Iftikhar
Hussain Baloch, Principal PU College of Earth and Environmental
Sciences, also the chairman of university's Disciplinary Committee, was
attacked, thrashed and injured by the IJT activists. The VC even talked
about the nexus between police and the IJT on different news channels
after the tragic incident which took place at the PU New Campus on
April 1, 2010, the day Turkish President Abdullah Gul was on a visit to
Lahore. The letter obtained is certainly an
eye-opener which exposes how those in the power can ëretaliate' if they
are ëhurt'. The document while apprising the CM of the whole
situation reads: "This incident is the part of a series of such violent
incidents that were not pursued by police despite the FIRs. In December
2008, IJT activists deliberately shot at and wounded two law college
students very seriously but the culprits were never arrested. This
emboldened the IJT." The letter, written by the PU VC, further
reads: "Our present phase of difficulties began on November 24, 2009
when we were unable to give admission to the nephew of Mr Shafeeq
Gujjar, SSP Operations. The SSP misbehaved with me in the VC Office and
was told that his language, tone and content was not worthy of his
rank. I informed the IG Police about this incident on the telephone.
The IG Police was most kind and understanding." But the crux and thrust
of the PU VC's letter comes when he writes: "Soon afterwards, we sensed
a change in the IJT. During December vacations in 2009, the IJT
attempted to forcibly occupy one of their old offices. We were able to
thwart the attempt but the police never came to our assistance despite
repeated requests. The IJT activists kept taunting/insulting the
teachers and administrative officials that police will not come,
indicating that they were in union with the police and had their tacit
support, and even encouragement." One wonders why the Punjab
government did not order any inquiry into the allegations levelled by
none other than the vice-chancellor of the Punjab University, which is
considered as mother of all universities of the country. The
situation raises another question as well that why the government is
reluctant to take drastic measures to flush out the student
organisation from the PU when the same does not exist at the Government
College University (GCU) Lahore, the University of Engineering and
Technology (UET) and many other institutions of higher learning. The
UET, Lahore, was once the hub of various student organizations and
violence was the order of the day but the situation changed altogether
now. It shows that if the government is sincere and wants to do
something, it can eliminate this menace from the colleges and
universities. The academic activities have been suspended at
the PU by the teachers since April 2, 2010 who say no classes will be
held till the arrest of those involved in thrashing of the faculty
member. A number of PU teachers said time
had come when government should act to flush out all the student
organisations from the campus, adding that if the government did not
realise the situation now, the dream of peaceful academic campuses
could not be materialised. "The student organisations do not
have an encouraging history in our country as violence at campuses is
always attached to such groups," said a senior PU teacher while
demanding the government help the administration of universities and
colleges, "hijacked" by different student organisations so that
peaceful academic atmosphere could be ensured. The news
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107 IJT students expelled: JI
LAHROE – JI Punjab Secretary General Nazeer Janjua on Sunday alleged
that PU VC Dr Mujahid Kamran was responsible for the situation
prevailing in the varsity. He said the VC had failed to run the
university, adding the revengeful attitude of VC against Islami Jamiat
Talba (IJT) was beyond the reason while IJT had taken decision against
two of its members. He said future of 31 thousands students was at
risk, adding 107 students of IJT had been expelled due to dictatorship
of the VC. He also demanded start of classes in the university without any further delay. The nation
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Probe into expulsion of students sought
Lahore: A citizen who claimed to be uncle of a rusticated student
of the Punjab University (PU) has demanded the government to initiate a
judicial inquiry into expulsion and rustication of students by the
varsity administration. Sheikh Azhar Mahmood who claimed to be
president of "Parents Association" of rusticated and expelled students
of the PU addressing a press conference at Lahore Press Club on Sunday
strongly criticised the university administration for allegedly playing
with future of over 100 students expelled/rusticated over a period of
time. He said a committee was formed over the issue by Punjab
Governor/Chancellor Salman Taseer over a year ago but owing to alleged
reluctance of the PU VC Prof Mujahid Kamran, it could not be resolved
yet. "Over 100 students have been rusticated/expelled so far", he said
alleging "The PU admin was playing with future of students." Sheikh
Azhar who claimed to be the uncle of a Hafiz Tauseef alleged students
were expelled and rusticated over issues such as organising book fairs
and other positive and healthy academic activities. To a
question, Sheikh Azhar said he belonged to Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and had
been affiliated with Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) during his student
life. He also alleged the PU administration wanted to foil successful
visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul saying the varsity had
announced closure on April 1, 2010. The news
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PU 'no sport' for sports
Lahore: Punjab University students are not the only ones suffering from
the campus' closure: dozens of sportsmen from all over the city, who
converge on the PU hostels for Sunday morning football, cricket and
hockey matches, were left high and dry after university guards denied
them entry. Although not students or employees of the PU, these
sportsmen – who come from all walks of life and all age groups – have
been coming to the playgrounds situated in the PU hostels compound for
years now. They include professionals such as doctors, engineers and
bankers; government employees; youngsters and even professional
sportsmen. In addition, many senior citizens also visit these
playgrounds with their children and grandchildren, looking forward to a
good game on Sunday morning. On Sunday morning, at around 6am, when the
first of these sportsmen began to arrive at the PU hostels, they were
greeted with the sight of their stranded comrades. Many of them had no
idea what was going on at the university, and were told by the guards
on arrival that the campus was under lockdown. Khalil, a football
player, said that he did not know that the PU campus was under
lockdown. When asked if they had any special permission to come play
here, he said, "We've been coming here for years now. The Sunday
morning football match is a weekly ritual for all of these people here,
and in many cases it is the only recreation we have all week". Daily times
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Distinction for ICS students
Lahore: Two students of the Punjab University's Institute of Communication Studies
(ICS) have been selected for the London International Documentary
Festival, starting from April 23. According to a press statement, a
group of 30 students from Pakistan participated in the documentary
competition and 11 were selected to represent their respective
institutions in London International Documentary Festival. Muhammad
Umar Saeed and Awais Ahmad will represent the ICS. The news
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