Over PSL? DI Khan protests attack on students at Punjab University

Conflicting reports suggest assault happened either over match or music.

LAHORE/ D I KHAN: A protest was held over the alleged assault on students at Punjab University, Lahore.

A rally was led on Friday by Pukhtun Progressive Writers, a literary society working for the rights of Pukhtuns. The protesters started walking from Haq Nawaz Park in DI Khan city and gathered at Topanwala Chowk to deliver speeches, causing a massive traffic jam at the Circular Road nearby.

“Those who attacked Pukhtun students should be arrested and punished,” said Gul Salam while addressing the protesters. He blamed Jamaat-e-Islami’s student group Islami Jamiat Talaba for the mishap at the university and said, “It is time the government bans activities of Jamaat-e-Islami at universities.”

Aziz Khan, another protester, said, “This attitude [towards Pukhtuns] will not be tolerated.” This incident shows the failure of the Punjab government, especially its police, he added.

Protesters condemned the incidents and said they would continue to raise their voice, and demanded safe conditions at educational institutions across the country. The rally, however, ended peacefully.

The fight

On February 16, students of Baloch origin were said to have been listening to music inside hostel no4 at Punjab University. According to various versions available with The Express Tribune, an IJT leader came and told them to turn the music off which they did. However, the IJT leader first went to the warden and accused the students of being intoxicated and then insisted on searching their rooms which were later set on fire.

For the next two days, protests erupted on campus which resulted in several students of Baloch origin getting injured.

However, other versions of the story suggest the initial fight took place after Quetta Gladiators won against Lahore Qalandars.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th,  2016.