Islamabad college students protest

Student wounded, dozens arrested, Transporters' plunder meets an end in Bhara Kahu riots
Islamabad, March 19: A young boy was seriously wounded alongside 21 others, including seven cops of the Islamabad Police, in a protest demonstration against increase in public transport fares in Bhara Kahu here on Thursday.

Students of various colleges of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, living in Bhara Kahu and its adjoining areas said that they had planned a peaceful protest against increase in transport fares, as their parents were unable to give them Rs100 daily for transportation.

According to them, they blocked the main Murree Road to register their protest and demanded review of the fare list. When a group of protesters intercepted some public service vehicles (PSVs), their drivers and conductors started arguing with students, which resulted in a brawl.

Eyewitnesses claimed that students got provoked and enraged over the administrative mismanagement when Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Ali Abbas and Assistant Commissioner Asim Ayub humiliated them. "The situation could have been controlled easily and angry students could have been cooled down by better management, but the attitude of the ADC (G) worsened the situation," witnesses said.

The angry protesters started pelting stones on wagons and buses, and broke the windowpanes of dozens of public service vehicles, witnesses said. They added that students stopped a number of public service vehicles and snatched keys from their drivers.

The local police called extra force to tackle the situation and tried to clear the road, but angry students started pelting stones on them. Consequently police resorted to baton-charge and hurled tear gas on the orders of the ADC (G), which later culminated in firing.

Resultantly, 21-year-old Mehfeez, son of Abdur Rashid, a first year student of the Islamabad College, Shamsabad, received a bullet in his chest. He was shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in critical condition. Moreover, Shahzad Town Circle SDP Farhat Kazmi was wounded along with seven police personnel during stone-pelting.

The protest, which started at about 12:30 p.m., continued till late evening. Police arrested dozens of protesters but most of them were released on the orders of the deputy commissioner. Traffic between Murree-Azad Kashmir and Rawalpindi-Islamabad remained choked for more than six hours. However, police tried to manage traffic by diverting it to different link roads.

Following orders from Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Interior Minister Rehman Malik has ordered an inquiry into the incident and appointed the deputy commissioner to submit a report within 72 hours.

Deputy Commissioner (Islamabad) Aamer Ali Ahmad, when contacted, said that the administrative officers would be punished according to the law if they were found guilty of provoking students. He said that he would complete the inquiry within two days, adding that the statements of the ADC (G) and AC as well as witnesses claiming the mismanagement of the administration would be recorded to ascertain the facts.

PIMS spokesman Dr. Waseem Khawaja, when contacted, said Mehfeez, the wounded student, sustained a bullet injury, but now he was stable and out of danger.

Meanwhile, Leader of the House in the Senate Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari condemned the incident and asked the Islamabad chief commissioner to conduct an inquiry into the incident. The chief commissioner assured Bokhari that the people responsible for the situation would be dealt with sternly.

The situation remained tense till late evening and the protesting groups continued attacking police with stones from different sides. The scattered youth blocked Murree Road at different points, but police remained silent.

Deputy Commissioner (Islamabad) Aamer Ali Ahmad said that despite having force, they would not use it. He said that all issues have been settled, but some people were creating law and order situation. He said that the chief commissioner has cancelled the fare list and ordered its revision as per public wishes.

Meanwhile, negotiations between the deputy commissioner and the agitating students continued till filing of this report. The news

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Protest against removal of RMC principal continues
Rawalpindi: Rawalpindi Medical College (RMC) students on Thursday continued their protest against the removal of their Principal Dr Mussadaq Khan and demanded termination of the services of the Punjab health secretary.

Over 120 students gathered in front of Benazir Bhutto Hospital and blocked the road for half an hour.

They were carrying placards inscribed with slogans in favour of the sacked RMC principal and against the secretary.

They also chanted slogans against highups of health department and the Punjab government.

While addressing the protesters, the student leaders said that the allegations against the principal were politically-motivated and fabricated.

They said that the protest would continue till the acceptance of their demands.

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Women varsity expansion
Rawalpindi: Punjab Governor Salman Taseer said on Thursday that more academic disciplines would be introduced at the Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) to extend more opportunities to students in diverse fields.

Mr Taseer was talking at the university's ninth convocation held at Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad.

"Women are a very important segment of the society and their role in country's progress cannot be overlooked," he stressed.

The governor asked the graduates to follow the ideas of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah to effectively contribute towards nation building.

"Educated women have to play their role in the betterment of the society," he said.

At the convocation ceremony, Mr Taseer awarded degrees among 1,057 graduates in different disciplines.

They included 756 students who did their master's in behavioral sciences, business administration, communication sciences, computer sciences, defence and diplomatic studies, economics, education, English, fine arts, Islamic studies, environmental sciences, gender studies and public administration. Another 300 students who completed their undergraduate programmes also received their degrees.

Gold medals were conferred on 26 graduates and silver medals on 27 others for their outstanding results.

The gold medalists were Mubashra Kiran (behavioral sciences), Hareem Butt (MBA), Ayesha Mansha and Salma Malik (communication science), Fouzia Pervaiz (computer sciences), Aasma Basheer (defence and diplomatic studies), Iffat Irshad (economics), Rabail Iftikhar (education), Naila Irfan (English), Rabia Noor (environmental sciences), Sareen Masood (fine arts), Mehreen Qaiser (gender studies), Saima Inayat (Islamic studies), Haseena Khatoon (MPA), Nazish Mehboob (economics), Neelam Jamshed (environment sciences), Quratul Ain, Sidra Shakeel, Noorul Ain Farrukh, Shermeen Bano, Iram Naz, Hadia Rehman, Javeria Khizer, Syeda Maria Zaidi, Tehseen Irum Khan and Sidra Tabassum.

In her welcome address, FJWU Vice-Chancellor Dr Saeeda Asadullah Khan said the university was doing its best to provide exposure to its students and faculty by encouraging participation in international and national conferences.

The university has developed international links and collaborative connections with various international academic organisations, improving the image of Pakistani women in the world.

Giving a brief overview of the developments in the university, Dr Khan said the construction of a new campus had been started on the land provided by the Punjab government.

"It will be a 'little university town' with all facilities for students and faculty to reside and seriously indulge in the business of teaching and learning," she said. Dawn

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