Punjab

Government College: CM orders inquiry into Deedar dance

Officials to look at vice chancellor and registrar’s role.

Abdul Manan January 23, 2011

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday directed the Higher Education Department (HED) to conduct an inquiry into how a stage actress ended up performing at Government College University, one of the city’s most prestigious educational institutions, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The scope of the inquiry will include the role of Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Aftab and acting Registrar Sahibzada Faisal Khurshid as well as other officials in inviting Deedar to perform at a fundraiser last Tuesday night, said sources in the HED. They added that the chief minister’s directions did not mention Education Minister Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, who attended GCU’s Bonfire Night and watched the dance.

HED officials said they were in a fix as to who to appoint to head the inquiry, since it might make a negative finding against Rehman, a close ally of the chief minister. The inquiry is to begin on Monday.

Deedar danced for some two hours at the GCU Bonfire Night Senior. GCU faculty members told The Express Tribune that the Welfare Society had hired Deedar to perform at the Amphitheatre and had invited the minister as well to act as a kind of shield against censure.

They said that the GCU registrar, who hardly ever attended such events, had attended and sat next to Rehman, because he wanted the minister to approve a summary for his extension as registrar for a second term. They said that Khurshid repeatedly asked the event organiser, and Deedar directly, to dance to Sheela ki jawani and Munni badnam hui darling tere liye.

The sources said that a private TV channel had offered the GCU a lot of money to allow it to record the programme for broadcast on Valentine’s Day.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2011.

COMMENTS (8)

arshad | 13 years ago | Reply This is also make rationale of Altaf Hussain suggession of giving Punjab to Army

Wowem | 13 years ago | Reply Yes. Truly, things are going to hell if the CM of the largest province has time for engaging in such rubbish. A few people may actually have had a lighthearted moment or two whatever the duration of the dance, But no, how dare they? Remember we are totally stuck up dogs in the manger: won't have any fun (well, other than 2 or 3 wives) and won't let anyone have it either, Shame on all these darned Victorian prudes aka mullahs!

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unknown | 13 years ago | Reply GCU --- a place where u cant wear jeans, where u cant sit with ur male class fellows even to study but u surely can see Deedar's explicit dance there! It is true that the Welfare Society was not aware of Deedar's performance. But this should have been stopped once Deedae reached the backstage. I really suggest the CM to take serious action and do question the Registrar, Sahibzada Faisal Khurshid and other people in the administration. It is a shame that because of the incapability of few senior officials the name of GCU is being defamed.

AngryRAVIAN | 13 years ago | Reply People, I study there. The environment of GC itselff is much like a jail. Every female and male is strictly told that they cannot STUDY together. In the words of the GC Proctor, 'Yeh co-education zarur hai, magar koi sath perh nahi sakta.' The Registrar expells boys who are seen too 'close' to girls, others are kept a strict eye. Ask any Ravian if u don't believe me. Yet, for 'charity' they ask Deedar to dance. I ask you the picture I gave you is extreme unjustice, extremism, and bigotry. GC used to be a name of culture. It taught people ettiquette on how to be gentlemen and ladies. Now, due to these corrupt officials life at GC is Hell for anyone who's not in their favour or speaks against them. Yet, mujras for their entertainment? What hypocrisy? WHY? Has anyone asked how the students of GC feel?

unknown | 13 years ago | Reply It took century and a half to get this university the prestige that it holds today.It has been the most pious of all and studying there is considered holly.As we talk of ravian spirit and once a ravian is always a ravian who is incomparable to other students.The corrupt people who arranged and allowed such a dance should not be left unaccounted.It is an educational institution and legends have studied from here.It was totally disgrace that a stage dancer was allowed..its such a SHAME!!

unknow... | 13 years ago | Reply whatever it is... our nation is going to hell... if our educaiton is corrupted like this... then there is no futur of this nation....

unknown | 13 years ago | Reply CORRECTION: The dance was of 15 to 20minutes not two hours.Let truth be truth.Do not exaggerate.

unknown | 13 years ago | Reply It is sad that some people who are unaware of the internal matters of the GCU Welfare Society are accusing of inviting Deedar to the Bonfire.It is greatly misunderstood.The members of the society are innocent while handling every affair of the event they were not informed by the advisor and higher officials sitting in the crowd.They approved the guest list.While members at the backstage had a hot argument on bringing her to the prestigious University. It would be my humble request to the CM to take serious account of the advisor of the GCU welfare Society and Registrar. Probably Vice Chancellor has been deceived by them.

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