IJT terrorists manhandle PU teachers, admin officials

Daily Times
* Clash took place after event organised by IJT without admin’s permission

* Admin concerned over MPs’ participation in functions

LAHORE: The Islami Jamiat Talba (IJT) activists manhandled senior teachers and administrative officials of the Punjab University (PU) for trying to stop them from organising a ceremony without the administration’s permission on Thursday.

Reportedly, the clash occurred in the lawn of the varsity’s Philosophy Department, where the IJT was holding a prize-awarding ceremony, in which Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) leaders Farid Paracha and Hafiz Salman Butt also participated. The PU administration’s officials and some teachers, after receiving information, tried to stop the function, upon which the IJT activists got infuriated and allegedly tortured them. Shortly after, more teachers and officials, including Prof Dr Amin Athat, Prof Dr Shaukat Ali, Prof Dr Abdul Ghaffar, Javed Sami, Chaudhry Iftikhar Ahmed, rushed to the Philosophy Department to control the situation.

The event, organised by the IJT without permission, disturbed the environment in the academic block of the new campus, the varsity administration said, adding that the Jamiat had also called its activists from the Government Science College, Wahdat Road, to participate in the event.

An official statement issued by the PU vice chancellor’s adviser, Col (r) Ikram, claimed that the (IJT) students not only misbehaved with the senior teachers and administrative officers but also abused and pushed them to make them go away. Such insulting behaviour towards teachers was without any parallel in the history of any educational institution, the statement added.

According to PU Resident Officer Javed Sami, IJT Nazim Zubair Safdar, Hafiz Wajid, Amir Yaqub and Rashid Manzoor were among those who misbehaved with the teachers. He held that the students’ organisation should abide by the varsity’s rules and regulations, adding that those who manhandled the teachers should be rusticated. Sami further said that participation of the political leaders in the illegal event had a negative impact on the peaceful environment of the campus.

Sources said that Punjab University Academic Staff Association (PUASA) President Mehr Saeed Akhtar’s sons were also in the group that manhandled the teachers.

Meanwhile, the PU spokesman said that the academic staff had also condemned the incident. He said that the staff had resolved to maintain peaceful academic environment and ensure respect of the teachers and administrative officers. No students’ organisation would be allowed to violate the rules and regulations, and high values and traditions of the oldest and largest seat of higher learning in Pakistan, the PUASA pledged.

The spokesman further said the PU administration had shown serious concern over the participation of some political leaders in the illegal functions held at the campus by the IJT students. “The administration hopes that the esteemed political leaders, who hold great respect, will avoid attending functions organised without a prior information of the administration,” he added.

University of Karachi’s new academic session begins

Daily Times


KARACHI: Classes for the new academic session at University of Karachi (KU) for the year 2011 commenced on Monday. A university official said that the classes were held in a smooth and peaceful manner. The university on Tuesday will mark the 51st year of shifting of the institution from the old campus to its existing premises.

KU bomb detonated with cell phone: accused

GEO
KARACHI: The accused in the police detention in connection with Karachi University blast have confessed that they were all set to launch attacks on other offices of KU as we as those of Rangers, Geo News reported Wednesday.

The officials investigating the incident have disclosed that the accused have links with a ‘Punjabi Mujahideen’ group which was formed by dissidents of a student organization in 2007.

These accused have been identified as Hafeezullah alias Bilal, Muhammad Umer alias chhota and Faiz Ali. They blonged a group named ‘doctor brothers’, the officials added.

These men finalized the bombing plan on December 25 and planed explosives in an under-construction block on December 28 and later carried out the explosion with the help of a cell phone. 

The investigating officers said that their remand will be sought on Thursday.

Karachi University resumes exams from Dec 30

Geo TV


KARACHI: All the examinations at the University of Karachi will resume from December 30 as per schedule.

This was announced by the spokesman of the University of Karachi on Wednesday.

He said that as per directive of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, strict security measures were ensured in the campus on December 29. 

The process of clearance of the academic zone remained continued. Since, the security has been ensured so all the examinations will be conducted as per schedule from December 30.

Students have been directed to bring their University's identity card. No students will be allowed to enter the University premises without the ID card.

Students coming for appearing in the external examinations should bring their original admit cards and show them on demand.

Any vehicle without the entry pass or sticker will not be allowed to enter into the campus.

It is pertinent to mention that the vehicles can be scanned or checked by the security guards or the Rangers.

Blast in KU, 15 injured

Samaa


KARACHI: At least 15 persons have been reported hurt in a small scale blast in the University of Karachi on Tuesday.

According to SSP Naeem Sheikh it was a parcel bomb. Heavy contingents of police and rangers with rescue teams rushed to the scene and started to move the injured to the hospitals. 

The parcel bomb blast took place between a mosque and cafeteria near Arts and Economics Lobby. 

After blast fear and harassment prevails among the students and university staff. 

All papers of today have been cancelled by the administration of the university.

Restore peace or quit, Governor tells KU VC

The-News


Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, being perturbed at the law and order situation and mismanagement at the University of Karachi (KU), has asked its vice-chancellor to bring normalcy to the campus or be ready for his departure from the university.

The stern warning from the governor to VC Prof Pirzada Qasim was given after a marathon meeting at the Governor’s House on Tuesday. The meeting that began at 3:00 pm continued till 7:00 pm. 

The governor candidly told the VC that the KU, like other universities, had to be cleansed from political influence or else he would be fired. 

Dr Khan, accompanied by his Principal Secretary Mumtaz Ur Rahman and Special Secretary Major (retd) Aftab Lodhi, told the vice-chancellor in plain words that the situation on the campus had reached the saturation point and any new disturbance there would lead to his last day in office.

The KU authorities have miserably failed to maintain peace on the campus, where clashes between rival groups of students have affected the academic atmosphere for quite sometime. Thousands of students are bearing the brunt of these clashes, which have caused frequent postponements of semester examinations.

There seems to be complete security collapse at the university as the administration is wilting under the political pressure. The KU even postponed its Syndicate meeting scheduled for Wednesday because there was no surety that it would not be disrupted by students. 

The dismal situation that has been wasting the precious time of students emerged after the student wing of a political party posed threat to the selection board for Mass Communications teachers because a candidate who allegedly enjoyed their support had failed to qualify. 

A similar thing happened at a meeting of the selection board for the recruitment of teachers in the Political Science Department when students from the same group caused disruption after their candidate could not clear the interview.

Former Campus Security Adviser Dr Khalid Iraqi, who was known for taking quick action to avoid any disturbance at the campus, had to resign as he was not allowed by the KU administration to take firm action against the hooliganism by a section of students. The selection of Captain (retd) Zahid Maqsood as KU security chief, who had applied as a retired major, became controversial and he had to go since he could not gain recognition from anyone at the university. 

In the meantime, a students’ alliance, comprising students from the Imamia Students Organisation (ISO), the Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT), the People’s Students Federation (PSF) and the Punjabi Students Association (PSA), protested against the policies of the VC and the Pro-VC for failing to control the situation. 

The KU administration then appointed Siddique Naveed as Campus Security Adviser. The alliance reacted angrily to his appointment as Naveed was a member of a party. The KU administration removed him from the post. A notification in this regard is still awaited.

Vice Chancellor Prof Pirzada Qasim and Pro-VC Dr Shahana Urooj Kazmi chose to stay away from the university on Monday. Another Pro-VC, Dr Nasiruddin Khan, is reported to be in Saudi Arabia for performing Umrah. 

President Karachi University Teachers Society Dr Abid Hasnain told The News that their concern about the pathetic security system at the KU had proved true because they (KUTS) had agreed to conduct the ongoing examinations but the university administration backtracked from its promise to remain firm against any political pressures. 

Another KUTS official, who wished anonymity, remarked: “We (KUTS) had agreed to conduct the examinations despite knowing that the VC and his army of incompetents were offering us a cosmetic surgery but the administration failed yet again. It is very embarrassing for us at the university and it seems as if there exists no administration at all at the campus.”