Daily Times

LAHORE: A clash between students – purportedly affiliated with the Islami Jamiat Tulaba (IJT) – and the Punjab University administration on Friday left several teachers and two security guards injured.

According to details, activists of IJT had planned to organise a seminar to pay tribute to APS martyrs at Hostel No 1 with prior approval of the PU management. Upon arrival of several activists, PU administration including Hall Council management, Registrar Prof Dr Liaqat Ali, Academic Staff Association (ASA) President Dr Sajid Rasheed, Secretary Dr Mehboob Hussain along with security guards reached the spot and asked IJT activists not to hold the ceremony. However, when security guards tried to enter the place, IJT activists manhandled, leaving PU security guard Zulfiqar and another one injured.

IJT activists pelted stones on administration from roof of a building, injuring several teachers and security guards.

Heavy contingent of police arrived where exchange of harsh words were observed between teachers and police officials. Teachers also blamed SP Adil Memon for favouring IJT activists. Moreover, Resident Officer Dr Sajid Rashid resigned from his seat to mark the protest.

In another incident, Hall Council Chairman Prof Dr Abid Chaudhry alleged that IJT fired gunshots at his car at 3:30am. He said that IJT activists were threatening him for the last few days. According to details revealed by ASA, IJT activist Arsalan, a suspended student of Department of Electrical Engineering, and another activist Sikandar Kakar, who is not a student of the Punjab University, attacked the vehicle parked outside the resident of Dr Abid at around 3:30am, broke windowpanes and tortured a security guard on the spot. The university administration identified both the accused through the help of CCTV video footage and other sources.

Talking to media, PU Vice Chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran said that IJT activists were pretty active from the last few days, as several teachers had complained against them. He said that there were approximately 43,000 students studying at PU but a handful of IJT activists were trying to disturb peaceful academic environment of the varsity. Mujahid said that the university administration would not allow any activists to take law in their hands and strict action would be taken against involved activists.

After the incident, ASA held an emergency meeting of its executive body. ASA President Prof Dr Sajid Rashid, Secretary Dr Mahbob Hussain, Vice President Dr Azhar Naeem and others strongly condemned the incident. They called upon Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and police high ups to take serious notice of IJT hooliganism.

They said that ‘culprits’ involved in the incident should be arrested under anti-terrorism act. Meanwhile, Punjab University spokesman has said that strict action will be taken against the student involved in the incident and the culprits would be dealt with an iron hand.

Talking to Daily Times, IJT PU spokesman denied all allegations and said that the ceremony was aimed to pay tribute to the APS martyrs. He said that PU administration had allowed the IJT to hold this ceremony but when it was in full swung, the management attacked the ceremony resulting in injuries to eight students.

Replying to a question, he was of the view that the IJT had the footage in which PU security guards could be seen while pelting stones.