Pakhtun Students Federation divided | Hunerkada thesis works

PkSF stands divided
Peshawar, Feb 28: The elections of the NWFP chapter of Pakhtun Students Federation (PkSF) were held here Friday amid protest by an aggrieved group, which boycotted the process and staged a sit-in and protest demonstration.

The elections were held at the Bacha Khan Markaz, the Awami National Party (ANP) secretariat, after which Majid Khan and Riaz Marwat were declared president and general secretary of the PkSF, respectively. However, a group of dissenting students, who boycotted the polls alleging partiality on part of the election committee, launched a separate group in the name of Azad Pakhtun Students Federation (APkSF). The boycott decision was followed by strong protest and sit-in at Bach Khan Markaz by the dissidents and a subsequent protest demonstration in front of the Peshawar Press Club.

Asadullah Mayar, leader of the newly formed APkSF, said they had conveyed their demands to the central leadership of the party, but there was no response. Speaking at a news conference at the pres club, Mayar deplored what he called the lack of interest in the PkSF problems by the party's central leadership. "Despite calling itself a democratic party, all decisions in the ANP are being taken by a few selected people who cannot tolerate PkSF groom as a democratic platform and generate democratic people," said Mayar.

He said they had boycotted the provincial election of the federation because they had no trust in the election committee, which "was a so-called committee comprising the government servants."

Mayar also introduced office-bearers of his body, including Attaullah, senior vice president, Daulat Khan, general secretary, Bilal, vice president and Asif Aziz, press secretary. A statement from the Bacha Khan Markaz, however, refuted the allegations levelled by the dissenting students.

The statement said Majid Khan, who is president of PkSF Agriculture University, was elected as the provincial president of the federation and Taj Mohammad Wazir as senior vice president.

Other newly elected office-bearers of the PkSF include four Vice Presidents - Abdul Hameed, Abdul Majeed Mahsud, Haq Nawaz Marwan, Pir Haroon Ali Shah, Deputy General Secretary Gulzar Hussain Babak, Press Secretary Imran Mamay, Finance Secretary Shahid Iqbal Khattak, Joint Secretaries Wajid Iqbal Bajaur, Tariq Jameel, Ahkamuddin, Nasir Kamal, Cultural Secretary Zia-ur-Rehman, while Jamal Babar, Rizwanullah, Haq Nawaz Charsadda, Jalal Khan and Farhan Khan were elected as central committee members.

Annual Day of Jinnah College for Women marked
Peshawar: The 30th annual day of Jinnah College for Women, University of Peshawar was observed Thursday where speakers paid glowing tributes to the institution for the best performance it has been showing for the past many years.

Vice-Chancellor UoP Professor Dr Azmat Hayat was the chief guest on the occasion. Participated by a huge number of students and faculty of the institution, the function was also addressed by principal of the college Dr Neelofar Zeb Arbab.

In his speech, Azmat Hayat said that Jinnah College for Women was an asset to the province. "This is the institution we shall be proud of, as it has produced the best graduates who have been rendering great services to the society in every sector," he remarked.

Neelofar presented annual report of the institution. She said that the college had the distinction of remaining the best institution of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Peshawar from 2001 to 2008 except 2004.

Later, Azmat Hayat distributed prizes to students for their distinctive performance. Controller of Examination Iftikhar Hussain Khan, Director Planning and Development Dr Shafiqur Rehman and others were also present on the occasion. The News

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Showcasing theses: Hunerkada displays ethnography of people
Islamabad: Hunerkada College of Visual and Performing Arts (HCVPA) on Friday held its inaugural display show of thesis works done by up-and-coming promising students, artists and designers on its premises.

The theses by young graduates of the college showcased paintings, art and crafts, textiles and graphic design campaigns.

They highlighted different aspects of arts and culture in various disciplines through visual and performing arts.

Their thesis work is an ethnographic study on people, history, art, craft, folklore and social change.

Nadeem Sajjad, a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) student, while explaining his thesis work in photography said that poverty, inequality and social disparity were the real cause of colossal impoverishment in Pakistan.

"In my thesis, I've used photography as a medium of communication mixing it up with both manual and experimental work to expose inequality in education, justice, social sector and similarly economic prosperity," Sajjad said.

"All photographs put on display are part of my thesis work titled 'Social Inequality' that tells the whole story how a poor Pakistani meets his ends and how he is struggling in every field as gap between rich and poor is widening with each passing day," he said.

The artist said unemployment, education, health, justice, law and order and gender discrimination were some of many issues, with whom the country had to cope sooner or later.

Aaquib Razzaq, another student, exhibited his work titled, 'Motifs of Jehangir Tomb'. Explaining his thesis work, Aaquib said his work was based on experimental handmade work and digital paintings.

"I've made dresses like sari, dupatta and chiffon to convert emperor Jehangir's Tomb motifs into fabrics," he said.

Razzaq said he manually used salma, sitara, gotta and zarri in traditional colours of tomb.

"I've used panaflex instead of buckram for my digital printings," he said, adding it's a misconception to say that only women were expert in designing such dresses.

HCVPA Curator and Director Amna Jamal Shah said Hunerkada had been endeavoring to educate, inspire and train people in various disciplines for the last 17 years.

"The HCVPA has a qualified faculty comprising professionals and intellectuals from different walks of life to promote art and culture of Pakistan," she said. Daily Times

4 students kidnapped in Hangu
Kohat: The driver of a college van was killed and four students were kidnapped in Hangu district on Friday.

Two students of Al Asr College were injured in the attack near Moebak Kandao. It was suspected to have been carried out by Taliban. They were sent home after treatment. Another student reached home after escaping from the van.

Abid Hassan, Asif Ali and Said Haleem Shah, all class XI students, and Shahi Abbas of class VII, were taken by the kidnappers to Orakzai Agency.

Driver Asghar Hussain's body was brought to Kohat for burial.

According to district police chief Sajjad Khan, a large-scale operation launched to recover the students and arrest the kidnappers ended in failure in the evening.

"We have asked the administration of Orakzai Agency to remain vigilant and help locate the missing students," he said.

The official said helicopters were also being use to trace the kidnappers in mountains and thick jungle.

The Hangu bazaar was closed after the incident because of fear of sectarian clashes.

People in Bangash area of upper Kohat district took to the streets to vent anger over the incident.

The Bangash community threatened to block the highway if the students were not recovered by 10am on Saturday.

The deadline was given to the district administration, after a meeting held at a police station, by the chairman of the Ittehad Bainal Muslimeen group, Mahatabul Hassan, and a former chief justice of Peshawar High Court, Syed Ibne Ali.

The ambush took place at the scene of a firing incident on Ashura day when mourners who wanted to enter Hangu from Kohat amid curfew were targeted by unknown men.

A jirga formed after last year's Muharram clashes in the area is yet to start negotiations. The government has asked the jirga to give its verdict by March 4 for restoring peace. Dawn

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