Rumpus on Quaid-i-Azam University
Rumpus on campus: QAU closed for four days
Islamabad, April 28: Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU)
authorities closed the university for four days, and ordered some 800
final-year students to vacate hostels, after violence by some
disgruntled students rocked the campus on Friday.
University sources said the action would not hurt the studies much
because of the weekend and May Day holiday and on Wednesday the
university would be rehearsing for the convocation ceremony set for May
3.
A group of hostel residents allegedly took advantage of the presence
of media on the campus, to cover an International Conference on Social
Sciences, to air grievances they had been nursing for a year and went
violent.
Witnesses said the disgruntled group gathered at the entrance of the
university on Friday morning, holding placards bearing their grievances
and demands, and did nothing more than disrupt the traffic. But as their
number increased, the protesters reportedly marched on the auditorium
of the Earth Sciences Department where the conference was underway.
There they went violent, breaking down glass and other things, making
some participants to leave the conference. There were no foreign
delegates though at the conference. Police was called in and dispersed
the rowdy students.
Inspector Shahid Mehmood of Secretariat Police Station who answered
the call said that no FIR was registered as the university filed no
complaint.
A disgruntled student asked about the group's grievances said it
wanted the university management to ensure "quality services" to hostel
inmates, initiate legal proceedings against a university bus driver who
had killed a student in an accident, waive off the fine imposed on 25
members of the group after a clash with another group last year, and
allow the revival of Quaideen Students Federation (QSF)."We will go for
tougher action if the university management did not listen to us,"
warned the student.
A university teacher confided on condition of anonymity that
the students which clashed last year belonged to Punjab and
Gilgit-Baltistan. QAU had lodged an FIR with the police, naming six
students, after the June 2011 incident which had closed the university
for a few days.
QAU Vice-Chancellor Prof Masoom Yasinzai, recalling the incident,
said: "Some students had fought at the start of their semester last
year.
Now, at the closing of the academic year, they are trying to put
pressure (for rescinding the disciplinary taken against them). Yesterday
a group of students came to me seeking permission to reorganise the QSF
but I told them that I am not authorised to allow that."
Students' unions in educational institutions were banned by the military regime of Gen Ziaul Haq in late 1970s and remain so.
Prof Yasinzai looked reluctant to take "the painful action of
expelling" the students behind the latest incident but said the
disciplinary committee of the university would certainly probe Friday's
rumpus and find ways to punish the guilty.
Dozens of hostel students, fearing possible eviction, staged a counter protest against the troublemakers.
"They were a small group out to agitate issues to their own benefit.
The vast majority of us are just interested in pursuing their studies in
peace," Moazzam Durrani, a student of Anthropology Department said speaking for "the 8,000 students of the university". Dawn
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HEC to stop step-motherly treatment with social sciences
Islamabad: Higher Education Commission Chairperson Dr. Javaid Leghari has said that from
now onward, HEC will stop step-motherly treatment meted out to social
sciences. Dr. Leghari was giving a comment in a lighter
vein on an earlier speaker at 3-day International Conference on 'The
Emerging Issues of Social Sciences in Pakistan' organised by the Faculty
of Social Sciences in collaboration with Higher Education Commission at
the Earth Sciences Auditorium here Friday. The conference
was marred by students protest under Quaidian Students Federation (QSF)
for acceptance of their demands. They took advantage of the conference
and presence of electronic media to put pressure on the administration.
The students blocked the entry points to the campus, but the
participants succeeded in sneaking into the venue. Still, the demo
delayed the conference by 100 minutes when Dr Leghari finally made it
through a backdoor. Dr. Leghari said: "We have started
deregistering substandard journals and you will see results in six
months." He said: "We have left the country to a few anchorpersons and
three or four politicians with fake degrees to decide our fate on TV
channels and exhorted the universities to take over." He opined that
18th Amendment was passed without studying international systems. He
criticised the working of implementation committee on devolution. Referring
to the presence of ambassador of Cuba, he appreciated the Cuban
government as the best supporter of education in Pakistan. Dr
Masoom Yasinzai, Vice-Chancellor, QAU, said: "We are disseminating
knowledge at lowest cost to the people." He said that QAU is growing by
leaps and bounds in the last two years. He also talked of setting up new
disciplines in near future. He said that many problems the country is
facing fall in the realm of social sciences. Dr. Nasir Ali
Khan from HEC said that we spend less percentage of GDP than Nepal on
education. He gave a slogan 'Taleem ko chaar (4% of GDP) do, qom ko
sudhaar do.' This is still a capitulation as UN calls for at least 5 per
cent of GDP spending on education. Dr. Ashfaq Hasan Khan,
Dean, Management Science, National University of Science and
Technology, in his keynote address said that social sciences in the
country are not in a good shape and universities can play key role in
providing social sciences. He said that disciplines of economics and
management had impact on policies. He said that acceptance of
contribution to society depends upon quality of education. He said that a
social scientist working in the government and not from CSS cadre is
treated by 'baboos' as outsider and only education can make the
difference. He enumerated and appreciated some economists produced in
the era when HEC was UGC. He said: "Our economy must grow
to at least eight per cent (now 2%) to take in the younger generation."
He also talked against devolution plan in education sector saying
Pakistan is the only country without education and health ministers. He
also referred to fake and substandard journals in which some social
scientists are publishing their articles. He asked HEC to revisit the
list of journals and remove such journals. Earlier, Dr.
Razia Sultana, Chairperson, Department of History and organiser of the
show, welcomed the participants. Dr. Nizamuddin from University of
Gujrat also spoke on the occasion. The rest of sessions
were cancelled due to protest and the venue of the conference was
announced to have been shifted to HEC where the rest of the sessions
will take place on Saturday and Sunday.
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Beaconhouse prize distribution ceremony held
Islamabad: To bring forward the talents of the students in public to keep instances
of splendours for others and encourage them for something alike, the
annual prize distribution ceremony was held on Friday, at the
Beaconhouse School System, Boys Branch, Margalla campus, H-8/4,
Islamabad, with characteristic fervour and enthusiasm, says a press
release. Dr. Inam-ur-Rehman, an eminent nuclear scientist
of Pakistan, who has received 'Aizaz-i- Kamal' in 1991 and
'Sitar-i-Imtiaz' in 1996 in recognition of his outstanding services,
graced the occasion with his presence. The programme began with the
recitation of the Holy Qura'an. The senior master Humayun Syed, formally
welcomed the chief guest and the worthy parents on this auspicious
occasion. He acknowledged the dedication of the young students who
undoubtedly are the embodiment of hope and bright future of the nation. The Headmistress of Boys Branch Margalla Campus Naila Sohail presented the annual report of the school. She
informed the audience about the laurels brought by the Beaconites in
their O level's exams where 42 students out of 163 achieved 8 A's and
above. 75% of students achieved 4 A's and above. Bilal Ansar, another
conscientious student of BMI.B won 75% UWC scholarship for LI-PO-Chun
college in Hong Kong. The English Dramatic Society
presented the court scene from the famous Shakespearean Play 'The
Merchant of Venice' where justice seems ready to take a cruel decision
but wisdom prevails and ruthlessness has to accept its defeat. It was
apt to the current situation prevailing in our society and stressed upon
becoming more tolerant and patient. Later the chief guest
honoured the meritorious students who excelled in academics and co-
curricular activities with shields and certificates. Beaconhouse School
System Chief Executive Daniyal Kasuri was also present on the occasion.
Addressing the ceremony the chief guest emphasised on
the role of the teachers and the parents. He advised the parents to
invest in their children's character and education. Commenting on the
development of the nations, he said that the urge to learn and acquire
knowledge along with ethics, norms and values always help the nations to
build up.
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National Book Day at Fountainhead School
Islamabad: The Fountainhead School celebrated National Book Day on its Islamabad
and Rawalpindi campuses where reading sessions were held in all classes
throughout the day. Every child brought one of his or
her favourite books to show, tell and read to his or her peers. The
main idea was to create 'reading buddies' amongst the students. The
classes were decorated with banners about reading, which included quotes
like 'There is no friend as loyal as a book' and 'A book is a gift you
can open again and again'. Parents were invited to come
and read their favourite books to their children and it was very
encouraging to see their enthusiastic participation. Activities
like making bookmarks and posters on topics like 'Kitaab meri behtreen
dost hai', 'We learn from books' and similar topics were also held. The
Best Reader Certificates were awarded to the best reader of every
class.
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NCA degree show
Lahore: The degree show of National College of Arts, Rawalpindi Campus graduates,
was held at the Zahoor Akhlaq Gallery at the college on Friday. The
show titled 'PASTICHE' was attended by a large number of artists, art
teachers, students and social elite.
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PU MBBS result
Lahore: Punjab University on Friday announced the result of MBBS, second professional
(Latest Re-Organised Scheme), supplementary exam 2011. The news
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LHC seeks reply on online registration of students
Lahore: Justice Muhammad Khalid Mehmood Khan
of the Lahore High Court on Friday issued a notice to the Punjab
government on a petition seeking implementation of recommendations given
by a judicial commission about the online registration system of all
eight education boards of the province. The judge, with
observation that grouping of education boards' officials had badly
damaged the system, sought a reply from the provincial government within
four weeks. The petition was filed on behalf of the Pakistan
Social Justice Forum. Counsel for the petitioner, Muhammad Azhar
Siddique, submitted that after the failure of online system, a judicial
commission had strongly recommended that both newly introduced online
and old manual systems should be run parallel until an error-free system
was established. The counsel submitted that the education boards
ignored these recommendations and awarded a Rs 300 million contract of
online registration system to a private company. He said there was a
possibility that students would suffer again this year. He requested the
court to issue directions to the authorities concerned for strict
implementation of the commission's recommendations. Daily times
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4,000 new schools to be built in Sindh
Karachi: As many as 4,000 new schools will be constructed in Sindh, said Minister
for Education and Literacy, Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq.Chairing a meeting here on
Friday, he said that these schools would be constructed in the province
in the next three years with the assistance of the World Bank and other
international bodies. The news
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