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PU Shia students pray outside press club again
LAHORE, Sep 2: The Punjab University (PU) Shia students on Saturday prayed asr (evening
prayers) outside the Lahore Press Club as a protest saying that some PU teachers
threatened and stopped them from individual prayers in PU hostels.
Shia
students had submitted an application to the PU chancellor/Governor Khalid
Maqbool in which they mentioned that some PU teachers were creating problems for
them. They requested the chancellor to take action against those teachers and
provide them with a separate place to offer their prayers.
Imamia
Students Organisation (ISO) information secretary Mumtaz Malik said PU
vice-chancellor (VC) Lt Gen (r) Arshad Mehmood in a meeting with PU teachers had
decided that Shia students could pray in their own hostels. He said on the
instructions of the VC, Shia students on Friday started praying individually in
their own hostels. He said when Shia students had gone to hostel-4 for their
prayers, the hostel authorities told them that Shia students would not be
allowed to pray in hostels.
PU Hall Council chairman Azhar Akram said
the authorities had not threatened Shia students. He said, "We allowed Shia
students to pray individually."
On condition of anonymity, a PU teacher
said no Shia student had been threatened and stopped from his/her prayers. He
said in hostel-4 only 'outsiders' were stopped from prayers. He said the issue
has been resolved, but some pro-IJT teachers were adding fuel to fire.
PU IJT nazim Muhammad Ayub said IJT workers were not putting hurdles in
the way of Shia students separate prayers demand. He said, "We have offered Shia
students that we are ready to pray behind them."
PU registrar Dr Naeem
Ahmad Khan said he had held a meeting with Shia students regarding their
separate prayers demand. He said Shia students had been demanding a separate
place for prayers, but he convinced them that they (Shia students) were not a
minority. He said the PU would provide security to Shia students and no teacher
has the authority to stop anyone from saying his/her prayers according to
his/her sect.
ISO spokesman Farhan Mehdi said IJT workers on Friday
protested against Shia students and shouted slogans. He said, "Shia students
want a peaceful solution of the issue." Daily times
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| Who is to blame, PU or the students' organisations?. Post your Comments/ Views. |
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| Education News | | Updated: 08 Feb, 2012 |
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