Will clashes at universities ever stop?
A number of violent incidents among student groups at universities
Karachi, March 20: It has now almost become a routine that clashes break out among
student groups at universities across the city, leaving dozens of students
injured, at times seriously, and disturbing the functioning of educational
institutions. The irony is that, just like the administrations of these
universities, the police seem to be helpless in protecting the students and
arresting the people responsible for spreading violence. A number of
violent incidents among student groups at universities were reported during the
past week. A case was lodged at the Aziz Bhatti police station in which a
complainant, Asmat, complained that when he was going home after his class along
with his friends on March 5, 2010, some persons belonging to a religious
political group - Amir Shahzad, Suleman, Naveed, Bilal, Saeed, Taimur, Abdul
Kareem, and Irfan - stopped them near the BSc Gate of the university and beat
them with sticks. Asmat said that he was injured and was now under treatment at
the JPMC. The police have lodged an FIR. He is a student of MBA at Federal Urdu
University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUAAST). Similarly, another
student, Abdul Raheem Khan, who was also injured in the incident, registered his
complaint at the Aziz Bhatti police station, stating that he is a resident of
Gulshan-i-Iqbal, and is a student of MBA in FUAAST. He added that he was going
home along with his friends when Haider Ali, Mohsin, Asmat, Gohar Zikria, and
Umer Farooq attacked them at BSc Gate of the university. He said that he
received injuries and is under treatment. The police have lodged an
FIR. Another clash was reported at Gulshan College. An FIR was lodged at
the Gulshan-i-Iqbal police station in which a complainant, Rao Ramzan, stated
that he was a student of 2nd Year, and Nazim of a student organisation. He said
he was beaten by members of a rival student group when he came to college one
day to appear in examination. He explained that the workers of the rival
student organisation - Irfan, Shahab, Nadeem, Amir Abid, Asghar, and Iqbal with
10 others - came at the college and asked him to talk to them about some issue.
He, along with his colleagues, Taimur, Rehan, and Suleman, reached in front of a
nearby mosque to discuss issues with the rival group's members. However, he
said, the above mentioned persons beat them with sticks and rods and resorted to
aerial firing, injuring him and his friends. The police lodged an FIR. However,
no one has been arrested so far. It may be noted here that Sindh Home
Minister Zulfiqar Ali Mirza, while taking notice of student clashes at
universities and colleges, had directed Provincial Police Officer Sindh Babar
Khattak to form committees in consultation with the administrations of
educational institutes to control the clashes. However, no progress has been
made in this regard. Observers say that the members of student
organisations are well armed and whenever fighting occurs at universities,
supporters of these organisations also come from other colleagues or
universities. The institutions in the city where most number of clashes
are reported include Karachi University, NED University, Sir Syed University,
and FUUAST. Whenever a clash occurs in these institutions, it affects the other
educational institutions as well and, as a result, rival groups also start
fighting at various colleges and universities across the city. Moreover,
sources said that at the time of admission at these educational
institutions, an affidavit is signed by the applicants that if he was found
involved in political or other criminal activities he should be expelled from
the institution. However, the administrations of these institutions have never
tried to implement this decision. Rarely student activists are expelled expelled
from varsities for their involvement in clashes. The sources said many
FIRs are lodged at different police stations in the city against the students
involved in creating law and order situation on the premises of educational
institutions, but no action was taken against them by the police or the
administrations of the institutions. If the administrations start taking strict
action against such students , the number of clashes would significantly
decrease. On the other hand, the police claim that whenever the try to
take any action, they face protests and allegations from educational
institutions or from political parties for victimising the students. If no one
is allowed to do their work, it becomes hard to control such clashes, the police
say. Moreover, during the past week the city also witnessed the killing
of three activists of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement (Haqiqi), including Haqiqi's
chairman Afaq Ahmed's lawyer Sohail Aujum, who is also the information secretary
of the party. This may intensify the law and order situation in the
city. salis.perwaiz@thenews.com.pk
The ugly side of student politics: Frequency of protests may yet rise
Islamabad: The current wave of violence over abrupt rise in public transport
fares is likely to sweep other parts of the country if the government fails to
bring onto those orchestrating these protests, intelligence sources said on Friday. "We have informed the government that the situation has
been drastically changed and the matter of fare hike is being used as a leverage
by political players to further their agenda," they said. "Police are
responsible for maintaining law and order situation but not authorized to
negotiate with different stakeholders who can disrupt city's peace any time they
want," they said. The protest against fare hike started at Bhara Kahu on
Thursday and turned violent when a college student, 18, was shot at and
hospitalized. On Friday, Benazir Bhutto Shaheed (BBS) Road was no less than a
battlefield between protestors and the police. Bhara Kahu and Faizabad bore the
brunt of these protests, led by students. However, DIG (Operations) Bani
Amin said that only a few students were involved in Friday's protest
and a lot of unknown persons. Sources said Pothohar Student Federation
(PSS) that is very active in F-G Post Graduate College for Men, H-8, Islamabad,
came on the forefront upon advice of an influential politician in Rawalpindi. An
activist of the PSS claimed proudly that Shaikh Rashid, president of the Awami
League, had extended his full support to 'us whenever we are in trouble'.
It is learnt that Khan Student Federation (KSS) led the Faizabad
protest. The sources said KSS President Umer Khan had been involved in violent
activities and he had long been supported by MQM. They said the strength of KSS
had decrease following tension between MQM and ANP in Karachi. H-8
college officials said Umer Khan visited the college a couple of days ago and
requested the principal to let him announce formation of a KSS unit. "Though
Umer Khan has left the college, he still controls his KSS. He is capable of
providing weapons to 'adventurous' students and take part in selected
activities," a student said. College officials said Umer Khan visited the
college escorted by half a dozen outsiders. "Most students know his truth but he
has money and usually hires jobless youths to pursue his motives," alleged a
farmer member of KSS. Daily times
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KU, Fuuast closed today
KARACHI, March 19: The University of Karachi and the Federal Urdu University of
Arts, Science and Technology in separate statements issued on Friday announced
closure of their campuses on Saturday on account of the death anniversary of Pir
Sibghatullah Shah (Sooria Badshah). The examinations schedule for the
day would, however, remain unaffected by the closure, the KU statement said. App
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