ISLAMABAD: The statements given by the spokesperson of the university were not official and nor representing the varsity, said Vice Chancellor (VC) Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) Javed Ashraf in a press conference on Friday. On the directives of his bosses in the Higher Education Commission and the National Assembly (NA) Standing committee, VC Ashraf became obliged to call a press briefing in the wake of some bitter statements given by his subordinate spokesperson Ilhan Niaz, regarding the university’s land encroachment. Niaz levelled serious allegations on some faculty members of the university and Higher Education Commission senior management. He alleged that some faculty members of the university and HEC officials were protecting varsity land grabbers for displacing Ashraf from the VC’s post. Ashraf said that Naiz did not inform him about the statements issued to the press. “That was his personal opinion and no longer with the university”, the VC told the journalists. VC Ashraf also expressed disassociation with the spokesperson’s statements in the NA standing committee held on Friday However, the Committee’s members and chairman Higher Education Commission Mukhtar Ahmed were not satisfied with this and directed Ashraf to announce this publicly through the media. The Higher Education Commission chief also directed the vice chancellor to write a letter to the President and Prime Minister informing them that he has withdrawn the statements. VC Ashraf appreciated apex court for taking notice of the land grabbing issue. On the issue of drugs business, the VC said QAU was not the only university where such activities are being practiced. “There are several universities and campuses where this business is being done”, he claimed. While explaining some other causes for drug activities, Ashraf claimed that ” Non availability of the university boundary wall is a major cause for this, adding that “the university was lacking funds and on a request we got some significant amount of funds from Higher Education Commission for the construction of a wall. The construction work of the boundary wall is under way”. Handicrafts exhibition: A three-day exhibition of handicrafts and women entrepreneur products Friday started here at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Around 50 stalls of handicrafts and women entrepreneur products have been set up in the exhibition. Apart from the display of high quality products, food court and cultural/ folk performances are the other key features of the exhibition. The business community has welcomed this initiative. The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry has appealed to its members and citizens to ensure maximum participation in exhibition. The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry arranged the exhibition in collaboration with the Handicrafts Association of Pakistan. It will continue till Sunday (Jan 22) and its timing is 11.00 am to 10.00 pm. The ICCI has organized this event to provide women entrepreneurs a platform to promote their business. Stalls of many products including gems & jewelry, woolen shawls, ladies and gents’ dresses, handicrafts, toys, food supplements, beauty parlor, Kashmiri handicrafts & shawls and kitchen have been put up in the exhibition. Expressing his views about the exhibition, President ICCI Khalid Iqbal Malik said half of our population is based on women and they have great potential to excel in every field of life. He said the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry is focusing on economic empowerment of women, due to the reason, this three-day exhibition has been organised. He hoped that this event would help women entrepreneurs to improve their business prospects. He said people should take active part in the exhibition and purchase the products of their interest.