ISLAMABAD: The vice chancellors of all public and private sector universities of the country are going to meet today (Monday) to discuss several agenda items, including campus violence, Daily Times has learnt. The meeting has been called by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in the wake of Abdul Wali Khan University (AWL), Mardan incident. A 23-year-old student, Mashal Khan, was beaten to death by a mob over blasphemy allegations. Requesting anonymity, HEC officials said that initially, the meeting had been planned to be held at the General Headquarters (GHQ), Rawalpindi. “However, it was rescheduled later. It will now be held at a local hotel,” he said. HEC Chairman Dr Mukhar Ahmed told Daily Times that violence in universities had been on the rise. “So, we decided to call the heads of all universities at one place to discuss the possible steps to stop such incidents from happening in the future. This is the only agenda of the conference,” he said. There are around 183 universities and degree awarding institutions (DAI), including 106 public sector universities, across the country. According to the meeting agenda, the vice chancellors have been divided into various categories and have been assigned separate agenda items for discussion. The vice chancellor of International Islamic University (IIU), Islamabad, who is also the chairperson of the VC’s Appointment Committee, has been tasked to present the purpose and the agenda to the conference participants. Anis Ahmad, the Riphah International University, Islamabad, VC, has been asked to present the actual context of socio-religious extremism. Zahoor Ahmed Swati, the University of Agriculture, Peshawar, VC, will explain the theme of extremism and its manifestations in higher education institutes (HEIs). Samina Amin Qadir, the Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, VC, will share the possible role of HEIs in curbing extremism, promoting peace and tolerance within and beyond. Beside VCs personal handouts, four different groups have been devised. Each group is headed by one VC and has to discuss their assigned agenda. The groups have been assigned to highlight the required public policy support in curbing extremism in HEIs, the role of university leaders and administrators in ensuring harmony, cultural understanding and eliminating radicalisation and role of students in developing tolerance. The agenda prepared by HEC closely follows the recommendations given by the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) on May 5. A VC, who is going to attend the meeting, said that such events were no more than the wastage of national resources. “It is just another tactic to use the commission’s budget, most of which is going to lapse at the end of the fiscal year,” he said. “What we need are some concrete measures instead of holding mere conferences. Actual stakeholders have been ignored in the meeting. The director students’ affairs of universities are the most relevant officials to deal with such situations. None of them have been invited,” he said.