KARACHI: Karachi University (KU) employees discovered that their support for student organisations could end up biting them back, after one of their own was injured in a fight on campus on Wednesday.
All academic and official activities were halted when a large number of employees announced a boycott when one of their colleagues was injured in a clash between two student organisations, even though he had been a participant, not a bystander.
Hundreds of employees locked the offices and amassed in front of the administration block. Classes were forcefully closed.
Abdul Waheed, a grade-7 employee, was injured along with three student activists in a fight between the All Pakistan Muttahida Students Organisation (APMSO) and the Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT) near the university’s canteen area.
The protests ended by noon on Thursday after the university administration reassured the employees that it would take action against those involved in beating up one of their colleagues.
The IJT’s KU Information Secretary Maaz Bin Zia claimed that Waheed was with the APMSO activists who attacked two IJT activists, Usman Butt and Usama Mushtaq of the chemistry and mathematics departments respectively. This led to a clash between the groups.
Zia alleged that the employees affiliated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement allied with the APMSO in the clash. “They cry foul by making it a case of ‘students-beat-employees’ and practically take the university administration hostage by announcing boycotts,” he said.
Campus security adviser Prof. Dr Khalid Iraqi told The Express Tribune that Waheed and an APMSO activist Shahid, who studies at the general history department, were also injured during the fight.
The fight was reportedly sparked by a declamation contest organised by the IJT on Wednesday. Zia alleged that the APMSO didn’t take it well that a number of students participated in the event. The activists reportedly had an argument then which was resolved later by their senior members.
A spokesperson for the APMSO denied the group’s involvement. “This is a matter between the IJT and the employees and APMSO has nothing to do with it,” he said. However, he said that the debate competition organised by the IJT was on a controversial subject and did not get much traction from students because of the topic – ‘Pakistan barae farokht’ (Pakistan for sale).
Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2012.
COMMENTS (9)
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LMAO, at all the commentors here, None of you know anything about KU. Just because you hate MQM you have now come to this supporting IJT, look what IJT is doing in Punjab University, IJT has same control over KU, and regularly beats up other people, be it political or non-politcal, one of my friend and his wife , yes his wife also, were beaten up in University because they thought they had a right to ask for nikah-namah, in front of Rangers personel. If you people think that APMSO has any control at KU sadly you are mistaken by your hatred of MQM.
At least the employees should be neutral. but, with regret, there are some employees who are affiliated with political parties. I liked the headline you made they deserve it.
APMSO.......... nothing but a shame to KU
The administration should take action against the employee who took part in clash among the two students organisation, this is a serious crime, the employee should be suspended or fired, this crime can not be tolerated inside the boundaries of Karachi university. Well, you might have seen the pictures of the program i think it got attraction by many students maybe this is the reason they opponent organisation of IJT didnt like it and did clash.
employees should be neutral.
Apmso and Mqm want to Destroyed KU...
I could only laugh at the APMSO spokespersons statement that IJT's debate competition was on a "controversial subject" ... Such topics are often set for declamation contests to invoke sentiments of the participants. I was among the audience and it ended on a positive note with a positively patriotic message.
In fact, it's a pathetic state of affairs at the KU where students organizations cannot see each other organizing positive activities for the students like a debate competition and even university employees get involved in fights.