Peshawar Universities closed due to violence
Universities closed as death of student sparks violence
Peshwar, Mar 20: The death of a student, who had sustained injuries in a clash between
student organisations five days ago, triggered violence on the university
campus, prompting the administration of all the varsities to shut the
institutions and vacate the hostels for an indefinite period. The
students turned violent when the body of Adnan Abdul Qadir, who succumbed to
injuries at the Lady Reading Hospital after 100-hour coma, was brought to the
Forensic Centre at Khyber Medical College for autopsy. The enraged
students blocked the main Jamrud Road for sometime and then entered the
university campus. They threw stones at different buildings, damaging
properties. The protesting students entered the hostels of the NWFP University
of Engineering & Technology, ransacked the rooms and put everything on fire
there. The students then turned to the NWFP Agricultural University,
where another bout of violence was witnessed. This continued till late Friday
night. Police resorted to baton-charge and used teargas to disperse the
protesting students. Five students were also arrested. The violence
forced the administrations of the University of Peshawar, NWFP Engineering
University, Islamia College University and Agricultural University to convene an
emergency meeting to discuss the situation to take an appropriate decision in
this regard. The meeting expressed shock over death of the student and
announced closure of all the institutions at the campus and vacation of hostels
for an indefinite period. All the hostels should be vacated by 12 p.m. today
(Saturday), a notification issued after the meeting said. The management
of the University of Engineering & Technology (UET) had already rusticated
the six students of the institution nominated in the police report. The UET had
also warned other students who were approaching the media and holding
demonstrations of disciplinary action. The incident in which the student
was injured took place on March 14. The activists of Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba
(IJT) and members of Bannu Students Society (BSS) had clashed on that occasion.
Five students including two from IJT and three from BSS sustained injuries.
Among them was Adnan Abdul Qadir, who suffered a head injury and was shifted to
LRH in a serious condition. He breathed his last on Friday and his death
triggered violent protests. The BSS member said that they were playing
music in their room in the tribal hostel of the UET, when some activists of the
IJT attacked them. They claimed that the attackers beat them up. They demanded
action against IJT and immediate arrest of the students nominated in the police
report. The office-bearers of the IJT, on the other hand, demanded judicial
inquiry into the incident. They claimed that they were not solely responsible
for the grave incident. IJT Campus Nazim Shad Mohammad said that
the issue was not a new one. He alleged that Fahd, a UET student, who was an
illegal boarder of the Hostel-III, used to play laud music in his room. He said
that some students of the hostel submitted a complaint with the administration
of the university, which served notice on him, asking him to avoid playing loud
music in the hostel. Shad Mohammad said: "This angered the said student,
who called an IJT activist to his room and severely tortured him with the help
of his other fellows on March 11. Three days later this student along with his
friends and some activists of IJT came face to face. The two sides exchanged hot words and subsequently clashed with each other. This
resulted in injuries to five students from both the sides." The news
Post your comments
Agri varsity VC drawing more than entitlement
Faisalabad, March 20: Ignoring the huge financial deficit the University of
Agriculture is in these days, the vice-chancellor is drawing more salary than he
is entitled to by exercising his 'discretionary powers'. Till date, Dr
Iqrar Ahmad has received nearly Rs3.5 million extra amount, it was learnt.
Documents obtained revealed that Dr Ahmad was made part of the
university (as VC) on Feb 27, 2008, through a notification (SOR&E)
23-22/08-VC/TC). The notification clearly mentioned that Dr Ahmad had
been recruited to MP-II grade. The terms and conditions said his pay
would be Rs105,950 per month, accommodation Rs63, 570 per month and utilities
Rs5,298 per month. However, Dr Ahmad is doing contrary to the government
notification and receiving a salary of MP-I grade -- Rs195,000 per month salary
and Rs9,750 utility allowance. The varsity on the other hand is facing a
financial deficit of Rs231.877 million which was revealed by its treasurer,
Abdul Ghafoor Khan, when he presented the budget for 2009-10 in the 35th meeting
of the syndicate. The non-development budget was Rs1055.262 million against an
expenditure of Rs1287.139 million. Sources said the VC had also got
issued a separate notification from the university for MP-I grade, but the
officials concerned did not accept the document. They said the VC was
also trying to convince vice-chancellors of other public sector universities to
raise the issue of MP-I grade with the government, but he got a poor response.
Dr Ahmad also raised the issue with the government that advertisement
for the VC appointment was of MP-I grade, however, his notification was issued
in MP-II. Over this, sources said the agriculture department sought the opinion
of different departments which clarified that Dr Ahmad's appointment was in
BPS-22 (MP-II). The governor's secretariat also endorsed departments'
view. Dr Jalal Arif, the university spokesperson, quoted the
vice-chancellor as saying that he (Dr Ahmad) had, immediately after the issuance
of his job's notification, approached the provincial government for correction.
He said the VC requested the department concerned to correct the
notification as he was appointed in MP-I scale rather than MP-II. He said the
result of that correspondence was awaited. He said the VC was not using
his discretionary powers and receiving salary according to his job advertisement
that appeared in national newspapers. Dawn
Post your comments
IIU holds ELT workshop for teachers
Islamabad: The Department of English (FLL) of International Islamic
University (IIU) conducted a one-day training workshop on English Language
Teaching (ELT), highlighting its theoretical aspects and practical application
here on Thursday. English Department In-charge Dr. Munazza Yaqoob, Dr.
Fauzia Janjua, Tajmina Khanum, Sofia Hussain and Amal Sayyid were the presenters
on the occasion. They covered various aspects of English Language Teaching, such
as language skills, material development, preparation of lesson plans and
selection of authentic material in the classroom. In their addresses to
the participants at the workshop's closing ceremony, FLL Dean Dr. Moeen-ud-Din
Aqeel and Director Female Campus and Vice President A&F Parveen Qadir Agha
highlighted the significance of ELT and teachers' training in the age of
globalization. They appreciated the Department of English's initiative in
conducting the workshop. The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks by
Dr. Munazza Yaqoob, who announced the holding of a series of workshops dealing
with the current and emerging trends in ELT. She asked the university
authorities for academic and administrative support in this regard. The news
Post your comments
Saudi Arabian team visits IIUI
Islamabad: A Saudi Arabia delegation lead by Dr Abdul Aziz Al-Ammar, Secretary, Ministry of Islamic Affairs of the
Kingdom, visited the International Islamic University, Islamabad
(IIUI). Muhammad Bin Saad Al-Dausary, Director Dawah Office of the Royal
Saudi Embassy in Pakistan was among the delegation. IIUI Acting President Dr
Zafar Ishaq Ansari, Vice President Parveen Qadir Agha and deans and the members
of the committee of the under construction of the Jami Masjid at the new campus
welcomed the delegation. The delegation was briefed about achievements
and activities of the university during last 30 years. Speaking on the
occasion, Dr Ammar lauded role of Pakistan in the Muslim world. He said the
Saudi Arabia government and people wanted Pakistan to develop and prosper
rapidly. He said Saudis termed Pakistan their home. Daily times
Post your comments
NVM Club at UET Taxila
Islamabad Extending its activities to universities, the National
Volunteer Movement (NVM) plans to establish NVM Club at the University of
Engineering and Technology (UET), Taxila, in order to promote volunteerism among
youth. In this regard, a meeting of Federal Minister for Youth Affairs
(MoYA) Shahid Hussain Bhutto and UET delegation including faculty
representatives and students was held at the NVM office. The delegation
briefed MoYA officials about the ongoing volunteer activities and discussed
future strategy to enhance such activities in Taxila and adjoining areas.
Dr. Naeem Ijaz said that students in UET Taxila are actively
participating in the Blood Donor Society and Environmental Protection Society.
He said that new initiative will encourage more students to join volunteerism on
permanent basis. "The collaboration will prove to be a step forward in promoting
peacetime volunteerism among the students," he hoped. To start up with,
the UET volunteers and MoYA will organise seminars, photo and art competition at
the campus to create awareness about clean environment. In addition to that, the
proposed activities include a National Volunteer Walk in nearby villages in
order to motivate them for community welfare activities. Dr. Naeem said
that the NVM club will give life time membership to students. "The club will
form a team of young and motivated volunteers and will organise NVM induction
day in each September." He further mentioned that MoYA will provide
disaster management training to first fifty motivated volunteers to establish a
group of master trainers.
Post your comments
Francophony Week concludes at NUML
Islamabad: The weeklong celebrations in connection with International
Francophony Day 2010 concluded at the National University of Modern Languages
(NUML) here on Friday with an award distribution ceremony. The activities
to mark the day were arranged by NUML in collaboration with Alliance Francaise
d'Islamabad. The students gave their best in debates, literary and
artistic activities, quiz and speeches. They also presented skits and songs to
entertain the audience. NUML Director General Kamran Jehangir
appreciated the participants for showing immense talent in different activities.
He said that more than 300 students are studying in the French
Department of NUML. The department has made an extraordinary progress over years
and Cultural Wing of the French Embassy has rendered remarkable contribution in
this regard, he added. French Ambassador Daniel Jouanneau Paul Henry
praised NUML for its efforts in raising interest of students in French
language. The news
Post your comments
| 
