ISLAMABAD: To share data of students with security agencies is out of question, said Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Balighur Rehman on Wednesday. The minster was talking to journalists after a ceremony organised by Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) to celebrate the academic excellence as it has secured place among top 500 universities of the world in prestigious Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Baligh referred the recent incident of one of Karachi University student, Karim Sarosh Siddiqui, who was allegedly found involved in an attack on MQM leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan, he said that after the incident some security agencies proposed to seek data of all students being studied in all public sector varsities, including KU. However, the proposal has been rejected categorically by the government as it was the matter of individuals’ rights. He said that the faculty members in the varsities have very important role to prohibit the terrorism and extremism. “Beside individuals and government, the faculty members at each level should teach their students tolerance and peace. They should brain wash them mentally,” Baligh suggested. The minister also recalled the National Action Plan (NAP), said that after the plan the peace is witnessed significantly in the country. While briefing about the drugs report in the varsity, the vice chancellor of the varsity Dr Javed Ashraf said that the administration made some adequate arrangements to stop drugs in the varsity premises. “However, there are some limits in the varsity bylaws those could not be crossed at any cost. We did as they could do in this regard.” Dr Ashraf also said that the university planned to hold three interactive seminars in the varsity in each semester. In these seminars the large number of the students would be engaged for participation they would be trained mentally. In the seminars, the VC added, the cooperation would be gained from three major segments including United Nation’s agencies, government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). To reply a question regarding the some groups of students who ever remained involve interrupting varsity’s peace, the VC said that in recent the disciplinary committee had made 14 recommendations to maintain the peace in the varsity. “Some students who found involve in illegal activities and distorting varsity peaceful environment, have been expelled from varsity hostels,” he claimed. Without mentioning the name of any institution, Dr Ashraf said that some commitments made by few institutions with the university, were not been fulfilled which resulted sever financial issues in the university. “We even could not purchase even new and modern scientific equipment since last many years and our students are compelled to use very old scientific equipment for their research purposes,” he maintained. When asked why the linguistic department of the varsity has been closed down, the vice chancellor claimed that this was decision of the syndicate, adding that the linguistic and language are two different things. Earlier, addressing to the ceremony Minister Baligh congratulated the faculty, staff, students and alumni for securing place in top 500 universities of the world. “It is a matter of great pride for the nation that QAU has achieved recognition at international level,” said the minister. He assured the university that all issues including the financial matter and encroachment of the university land would be solved on priority. “We have the political will to clear the QAU land from the encroachers,” he added. He said that universities should introduce strict regulations to eliminate drug usage and menace of extremism on the campus and increase focus on character building of the students along with academic activities. The minister also declared QAU as Flagship University of the country. Published in Daily Times, September 14th 2017.