|
ISF-IJT face-off at Punjab University
Lahore, Jan 16, 2008: The Punjab University (PU)
students have formed Insaf Students Federation (ISF), a new students union
backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), against Islami Jamiat Talaba
(IJT).
Formal announcements in this regard will be made in a few days.
The PU students, former IJT activists, who parted their ways with the
IJT after manhandling of Imran Khan by its activists, are among the founders of
the ISF.
A meeting of students from several institutes was held a few
days ago at the PTI office. In which the students announced to form the ISF
across the country.
A participant of the meeting said PTI vice president
Ejaz Chaudhry had headed the meeting. Students from the Lahore University of
Management Sciences, the King Edward Medical University, the University of
Engineering and Technology, the PU and the Lahore School of Economics attended
the meeting.
It was decided in the meeting that the PU would be the hub
of ISF activities.
ISF convener Muhammad Madni said that it had
been decided in the meeting that the ISF would work for the students' welfare.
"Several student unions are already present in institutions and we know that
they will create problems for us, but students are free to join a union of their
choice."
Some former IJT workers said they would support the ISF on the
PU campus. They said the IJT had threatened them with dire consequences for
supporting the ISF.
A PU student, who attended the meeting, said PTI
chairman Imran Khan was the only popular leader among the youth. He said he had
resigned from IJT membership soon after it manhandled Khan on the campus.
PU IJT media secretary Imran kiyani said, "We did not threaten anyone
with dire consequences. The IJT has never created problems on the campus."
On condition of anonymity, a PU teacher said that soon after the
appointment of Professor Mujahid Kamran as the new PU vice chancellor, some
pro-IJT teachers, who were controlling the PU affairs, resigned from their
additional duties.
The PU students, he said, who had launched the
anti-IJT movement were happy with the appointment of Professor Kamran. "In the
past, the students had gone through a tough time due to the IJT's stronghold on
the campus. The ISF will get a better response from the students, because Imran
Khan is a national figure."
PU registrar Dr Naeem Khan said the students
were free to express their freedom. "We are trying to provide a peaceful
environment to the students on the campus." Daily Times
|
