Froebel's & Beaconhouse School violence

Clash over soccer match leads to 'gang war'
Islamabad, Jan 30: A one-year-old gang war between students of the Beaconhouse School System and the Froebel's International School, erupting after one side lost a football match, is said to be the main reason behind last week's violence that shocked the entire capital, including Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

The battle between students of the elite schools became so explosive that Prime Minister Gilani had to disown his friendship with the owner of Froebel's International School and his former jail mate Saad Ali Khan. Gilani minced no words in saying he would not endorse the actions of friends if they hurt parents and their children.

A single mother named Mrs Khan has, meanwhile, come forward to reveal how her orphan child Mehmoosh Khan was attacked by a gang of 40 Beaconhouse boys, armed with clubs. Her son was wounded in front of her and a crying sister, she alleged.

Speaking to 'The News', the woman explained the issue had been resolved when Imtiaz Gul, father of the boy who had brought his friends to attack her son, tendered an apology. But Mehmoosh Khan's mother claimed Saad Gul, after being pardoned, was once again involved in the last week's fight on the campus.

The lady recalled the sons of Imtiaz Gul - Saad and Faraz Gul - along with their 40 buddies had attacked her son last year. As Mehmoosh was being beaten up by the bullies outside her house, she said, some boys living in the street also came out. Since they were only four in number, she continued, the assailants roughed up all of them.

After Mehmoosh was seriously injured, his mom lodged a complaint - containing vivid details of the incident involving the sons of Imtiaz Gul - with the Shalimar Police Station. Mehmoosh informed police that Beaconhouse students had come to settle their scores. The victim had also given police registration numbers of the official vehicles used by the alleged assailants.

The woman remarked she was shell-shocked to see her son hammered by Gul's boys in a jiffy. Before she could do anything, the woman added, the attackers fled. Her son also accused Gul's boys of touching off the brush at the Froebel's last week when supporters of Asad Dil Jan started shouting slogans against the school administration over what they called "rigging" of election results.

In a chat with this correspondent, Sub-Inspector Mohammad Yousuf confirmed receiving a report from the parent of Mehmoosh after he was allegedly thrashed by Faraz Gul, Saad Gul, Bilal Niazi, Mohsin Khan, Omar Khan, Safi Qadri, Ali Malik and others. He said the Beaconhouse boys had attacked the house of Mehmoosh and had injured him.

Yousuf added he had written a letter to the Beaconhouse administration seeking addresses of the boys to proceed against them. But the parents of the accused apologised to the applicants and a compromise was reached as Mehmoosh's mother forgave the aggressors.

Meanwhile, Sub-Inspector Qaiser Niaz of Kohsar Police Station revealed he too had received a complaint against Froebel's students. But he explained the case, unfit for police action, was not registered.

Imtiaz Gul, a journalist by profession, claimed his children were hit by some boys after they lost the football match. Insisting his sons were innocent, he confirmed visiting the police station after a complaint against his sons was lodged. Gul verified reaching a compromise with the complainants and tendering an apology in a bid to settle the issue amicably. He wondered why a one-year-old tiff had been resuscitated.

Reminded that Mehmoosh and his mother had held Saad Gul responsible for leading last week's assault on Froebel's students, he replied the assertion was far from true. His son was besieged inside the school building along with his friends, he charged, disclosing they were rescued by police.

Instead he blasted Tariq Khakwani's son and his pals for setting off the fight at the school. Gul reiterated it was wrong to assume Saad had targeted anyone. "I wonder why such things are being reported by the mother of Mehmoosh Khan now that we are trying to pacify things at the school."

Spain gives 2,000 books to NUML
Islamabad: Spanish Ambassador Jose Maria Robles Fraga presented over 2,000 Spanish books, dictionaries and a sizeable number of educational videocassettes to the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) at a ceremony here on Thursday, says a press release.

NUML Rector Professor Dr. Aziz Ahmad Khan received the books, dictionaries and videocassettes on Spanish literature, culture and a variety of other subjects.

Speaking on the occasion, Spanish Ambassador Jose Maria Robles Fraga said that Spanish was the most popular language in the world after English. "These books and videos would be of a great help to students learning Spanish in the university," he added.

The NUML rector thanked the Spanish ambassador for selecting the university for presenting a large number of books and videocassettes. He hoped that this generous gesture of the Spanish government would play a significant role in furthering the cause of education in Pakistan.

Officials of the Spanish embassy, teachers and students of the Spanish Department were also present during the presentation ceremony. The News

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