Daily Times

LAHORE: A Punjab University student was allegedly tortured for tweeting in support of “missing” social rights activist Salman Haider here on Tuesday morning.

According to details, Suhail Ahmed, a student at PU Law College who is also a distinguished debater, shared a poem of revolutionary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz in support of professor Salman Haider, who went missing some days ago.

On Sunday night at 8.33pm, a group of 14 students reached his room in Hostel No 1 and took him forcefully to another room, which had been infamous for being a torture cell in the past.

Talking to Daily Times, the victim’s brother said that he [Suhail] used to share such posts to his Twitter and Facebook accounts. “But on Monday night, a group of students approached him and tortured him.” Replying to a question regarding involvement of any student organisation or Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT), he said he and his brother did not see involvement of any organisation in the incident. It is pertinent to mention here that his brother did not allow taking Suhail’s view on the matter.

However, according to sources, IJT activists and Suhail’s family have reached a settlement for not mentioning the names of IJT activists – allegedly involved in the incident – in media.

Suhail in his early interview with media had claimed that IJT activists took him to a “torture cell” and tortured him. In his early media talks, Suhail had also claimed that he had approached newly appointed PU Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr Zafar Moeen, “who asked how did you know that they were IJT men, and that the IJT had promised me that they would remain peaceful”.

Sources added that the university’s guards and administration were unable to take any action against alleged activists due to “secret deal” between the IJT with Vice Chancellor Dr Zafar Moeen.

When contacted, IJT spokesman brushed aside all the allegations, saying no IJT activist was involved in the matter. “It was an act of some other people who at their own tortured Suhail”. Replying to question regarding attachment of any member of the 14-member group – which tortured Suhail – with the IJT, he was of the view that the IJT had nothing to do with the group that manhandled Suhail.

According to the Punjab University spokesman, a case had been registered with police on the request of the vice chancellor. He said that the vice chancellor also visited the Hostel No 1 after the incident.

The spokesman added that the impression was not correct that the IJT had been given free hand. He said that PU administration would not compromise on the situation of law and order. He said that the administration would take action against the elements involved in the incident as per rules and regulations.