Punjab University clash: Students come together against ‘hooliganism’

Over 125 security officials deployed on campus to maintain peace

LAHORE: Situation at the Punjab University remained tense on Monday, four days after two rival student groups clashed at the campus, leaving three pupils hospitalised.

Both students groups took out protest rallies in the university amid police presence, demanding security and peaceful environment. The police will register cases against both groups on the complaint of the university administration.

A large number of students belonging to the Pakhtoon Education Development Movement (PEDM), Sindh Council, Baloch Council and a number of students with out any affiliations protested against the Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT).



The protesters raised slogans against the IJT and accused them of hooliganism on the campus. They also accused the administration to cower against the pressure of the IJT.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Jaffar Khan, a student affiliated with the PEDM said that students from Balochistan had been confined to Hostel Number 4, as the Hostel Number had been taken over by the IJT. He added, “Even police told us that we cannot go to our rooms after we showed them that we are residents of those rooms. The IJT has occupied the Hostel Number 1 illegally and rooms are occupied by IJT members who are not even students of the varsity. On the other hand, we are forced to live in just a single hotel, where 10 students are forced to live in a single room. The administration and police seem to be powerless against the IJT.”

When contacted, Iqbal Town SP Adil Memon said that the police had deployed more than 125 officials in the university to maintain peace. He said that the police was also registering a case against both the student groups on the complaint of the Punjab University administration. On the complaints of students of PEDM that they were not being allowed in their hostel rooms, he said, adding that the police had contained both groups in separate hostels to maintain peace.



The Punjab University spokesperson said that the administration had taken measures to maintain a peaceful environment at the varsity. He added that the situation was under control and the university administration was taking measures for the safety of students.

Meanwhile, the IJT also protested outside the VC House demanding that former Vice-Chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran vacate the official residence. They blamed the former VC of instigating violence in the university.

On Friday, students and activists belonging to the PEDM and IJT clashed outside the hostels, which left around a dozen injured and at least 3 students hospitalised. The police was called in to maintain peace, when the students pelted stones and fought with sticks. The police used tear gas to control the fighting students. Later, the police deployed a contingent outside the hostels to avoid further clash between students groups.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2017.