Protests shut down QAU

Three students kicked out of hostel for thrashing IJT member

ISLAMABAD: Protests by Quaid-e-Azam University students on Tuesday led to the varsity closing early. The students were protesting after the administration expelled three students from its hostels for thrashing an Islami Jamiat -e-Talaba (IJT) member.

Three members of the Pashtun Council, a body of Pashtun students, allegedly thrashed IJT member Faiz Rabbani on February 24 over “his vigilantism”.

Protesters said Rabbani and other IJT members would order female students to cover up and warn students against mixed-gender gatherings.

Rabbani’s complaint to the university administration named Mirwaiz, Adil and Zaraq Khan. The application was handed to Provost Dr Anwar Shah, who formed a committee comprising himself and two professors, which recommended that the varsity disciplinary panel take action against the students. Each student was fined Rs30,000 and kicked out of the hostel.

On Tuesday, the protesting Pashtun Council was joined by other regional and linguistic groupings of students, all demanding that the committee withdraw its decision. They also demanded a complete varsity-wide ban on the IJT, whose members they accused of hooliganism and of supporting banned transnational terrorist groups.

The protesters shut down the university’s bus service, due to which most of the staff and students could not reach the campus. They also held a protest demonstration in front of the academic blocks.

A protester said the provost was favouring the IJT and promoting them. Shah denied the allegation.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Shah said action was taken against students for breaching discipline. “To me, all students are equal,” he said.

QAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Javed Ashraf was not available for comment.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2016.