Social media flare up: Gillani allowed to complete his PhD at UAF

The university had rusticated him for posting scathing remarks about UAF’s Kisan Mela

FAISALABAD: The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) has decided to withdraw its decision to expel a PhD student for criticising the university’s management on a social networking website.

The decision was taken by a review committee headed by Disciplinary Committee chairman Haq Nawaz Bhatti. The disciplinary committee allowed Kashan Gillani to explain himself.

Gillani offered an unconditional apology for posting negative comments about the UAF’s Kisan Mela on Facebook.

In a written statement submitted to the disciplinary committee, Gillani said that he did not have a personal grudge against the university administration or anyone involved in organising the Kisan Mela.

He said that if any of his teachers had felt insulted because of his comments, he was sorry.

“I request that I be allowed to continue my PhD.”

The disciplinary committee then rescinded its decision to rusticate Gillani.

Earlier, the UAF administration had expelled Gilani, a PhD student in his first semester at the Agriculture Extension Department, for posting a scathing remark against the UAF’s Kisan Mala 2015.

His original post was:  “I have been in a dilemma for two to three days as to how the Kisan Mela, musical concert, depicts rural life; how the teachers, sitting at stalls rather in classrooms, are trying to create an impact…There are more foreigners here rather than farmers.”

UAF Registrar Chaudhary Muhammad Hussain had issued a notification earlier rusticating the student stating:

“Syed Kashan Haider Gillani is found guilty of indiscipline and misconduct under Rule 3 of the UAF Act. You have defamed the UAF and were involved in spreading incorrect information and were misleading the students’ community on social media in connection with Kisan Mela. You have also been involved in initiating an undesirable and unwarranted derogatory and disrespectful debate about a University programmer on social media. You have been involved in damaging the repute of UAF and are bringing the university a bad name.”

The UAF had banned Gillani from entering the UAF premises and had told him to vacate the hostel immediately.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2016.