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IJT openly recruiting freshmen at PU
LAHORE, Oct 29: The Islami Jamiat Talaba's campaign to recruit freshmen at Punjab
University is at its peak even though political activity is banned on
campus.
PU authorities have called the recruitment drive part of 'student
activity', which is not banned. The IJT has arranged welcome parties at the
department level and has also distributed books amongst students. They have
displayed large banners with welcome quotes and traditional slogans at various
locations on campus. The IJT has also set up committees in all departments and
has tasked them with running its agenda.
PU Registrar Dr Naeem Ahmad Khan
said that he did not think IJT's advertisement campaigns and other
activities were illegal. He said, "There is no ban on student organisations or
activity." He said the environment on campus was peaceful and no IJT student was
involved in political or illegal activity. He said the university provides equal
opportunity to all students to take part in extra-curricular
activities.
A PU teacher alleged the university's policy on the IJT had
changed after the appointment of Dr Arif Butt as acting vice chancellor. He said
Dr Butt had a soft corner for the IJT, as he had been an activist during his
college days.
He said Dr Butt had met reporters a couple of days ago and
had told them that student unions and teachers should be encouraged on campus
and that he had not restricted any student welfare union or teacher welfare
organisation to operate. "Everyone will work under the guidance of teachers," he
quoted Dr Butt as saying.
He said Dr Butt had also expressed support for
the IJT to set up its annual book fair, which the former vice chancellor Lt Gen
(r) Arshad Mehmood had banned.
Separately, freshmen on campus denounced
the sponsors of the IJT's recruitment drive.
Naveed Hussain, enrolled in
the masters programme at the Political Science Department, alleged that Dogar
Publishers supported the IJT and in return the IJT made students use books
published by Dogar. He alleged that, "This is happening where the IJT is
strong."
He also alleged that several university teachers regularly
provided funds to the IJT and in return the IJT worked for them.
Hafiz
Usman, another PU student, alleged that soft drink company Shandy Cola was a big
IJT sponsor. He said the company provided the IJT with drinks at all its
meetings. He said the IJT had banned on campus soft drinks produced by
multinational companies and had allowed only Shandy Cola. "This drink in
unhygienic and a health risk," he added.
IJT information secretary Kashif
Arif said the organisation was working for the rights of students and were
hosting welcome parties for them. He said the IJT had already hosted a few
welcome parties for freshmen and had used its own funds. He said Dogar
Publishers wanted publicity and that was why they were sponsoring the IJT. Daily Times
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| Education News | | Updated: 25 May, 2012 |
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