|
HRCP statement on PMC Ahmedi students' episode
Lahore, July 03, 2008: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on Wednesday
expressed its concern at the authorities' failure to redress the grievances of
the unlawfully expelled Ahmedi students of a Faisalabad college and demanded
strict action against the trouble-makers.
In a statement, HRCP
Co-chairman Iqbal Haider said the rustication of 23 Ahmedi students of the
Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad, early last month on the ground of their
belief was apparently a case of extraordinary discrimination. The HRCP,
therefore, requested a senior member of its governing body to probe the
matter.
This inquiry showed that while rusticating the students, the
college administration did not follow the rules prescribed for this extreme
action; that the committee of teachers set up to examine the victims after the
event included teachers who were in the body that had taken the decision to
rusticate them; and that a few students who appeared before the investigating
committee were unduly harassed and intimidated. There were also indications that
some members of the faculty colluded with the Ahmedi-baiting
trouble-makers.
The commission is, therefore, seriously apprehensive of
justice being denied to the unlawfully expelled students. It calls upon the
provincial and federal governments to intervene immediately to protect the
wronged students and deal firmly with hate-preachers. Dawn
|
