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Qazi Hussain Ahmed's article: IJT advised not to enforce ideology on students
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LAHORE, Nov 2007: Following the publishing in the Urdu press of an article called 'Tragedy of Punjab University'
written by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed, a debate has started
over the attitude of the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) in Punjab
University. |
People are debating whether the article is a warning to the
IJT by Qazi or a 'face saving' attempt by him to improve his party's image. The
IJT is JI's students wing.
The article, which was printed on Tuesday,
discloses that the IJT had pre-planned the manhandling and detaining of Pakistan
Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in Punjab University on November
14.
The article reveals how Imran contacted JI bigwigs to appear on
campus and discuss with students the emergency and call for the restoration of
democracy. The article states that the JI and IJT disallowed Imran to go it
alone, as the university is JI and IJT turf, and urged him to have a joint show
with the IJT led by JI Punjab chief Liaqat Baloch.
The article reveals
the emotional attachment Qazi has with the IJT and states that the IJT's violent
attitude has become a source of disgrace for it, as it gives the media fodder to
defame JI's student wing.
The article also states the complaints of
several elements within the IJT about violence being perpetrated by the IJT on
campus. Qazi urges the IJT not to be violent and not to force its strategy and
ideology on campuses and advises it to apologise to Imran and to refrain from
such acts in the future.
PU sources informed on Tuesday that the
article had sparked widespread debate on and off campus over whether the IJT
would follow Qazi's advice or not.
Some circles believe that the article
was a face saving attempt by Qazi, as it did not mention the action taken by the
JI over the IJT's violations and hooliganism. They assumed that it looked as if
some elements within the IJT were not in the control of JI
bigwigs.
Others believe that Qazi truly meant what he wrote. They believe
that the JI chief wants the IJT end its hooliganism and let students decide
whether to join or not to join the IJT.
Punjab University Academic Staff
Association ({PUASA) president Prof Mumtaz Ahmad Salik, who is also affiliated
to the JI, said he would not comment on Qazi's article, as it was a personal
point of view.
"I am not aware of the story behind the Imran Khan
episode," he said, adding, "However, we believe that students should stay in
their limits and respect their elders."
He said there should also be
respect for democratic standards. He said such a message promoted tolerance,
accommodation and democratic norms on campus with equal opportunity for all
students. He said students must focus on their studies and curricular
activities.
Prof Dr Iftikhar Hussain Baloch, who has been confronting
JI/IJT policies and ideology on campus, said a significant number of PU students
and teachers believed that this could be a face saving attempt by the
JI.
He said, "It is believed that the IJT considers themselves the real
force of the JI and if there is a problem, the JI should take action against its
student wing. This, however, has not been seen."
He said people knew that
JI bigwigs had been approaching the PU administration to restore expelled IJT
students. "If the JI really wants to improve its image, it should not take part
in such activity," he added.
PU Registrar Prof Dr Muhammad Naeem Khan
said the advice from the senior politician and leader was positive and must be
taken accordingly. "It gives the IJT a new policy to follow," he said. "It is
also clear that nobody on campus is above the law."
PU IJT nazim Attiqur
Rehman, who replaced Muhammad Ayub after the Imran episode, said Qazi wrote the
article as advice to the IJT. He denied the presence of violent elements in the
IJT, saying, "We live in the hearts of the students. There are bigger examples
of violence by the state. The real issue here is lifting the ban on student
unions to allow students to act freely and democratically. Till the ban is not
lifted students will take part in violence."
He alleged that certain
elements were trying to break the unity between PU teachers and students and the
IJT with the aim to allow the regime to enforce "anti-people policies like such
as the Model University Ordinance".
However, the IJT would not allow
anyone to break the student-teacher alliance, he added. Daily Times
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| Education News | | Updated: 25 May, 2012 |
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