Matters in check: PU restricts student organisations’ activity

Issues 11-point administrative order with rules to curb unrest

LAHORE: Reacting to the conflict between two groups on March 21, the Punjab University administration has decided to impose rules to restrict student organisations’ activities. The objective is to control the prevailing unrest on campus.

According to a letter issued by the PU Registrar to all deans, chairmen, principals, directors, wardens and heads of non-teaching administrative departments, the university chalked an 11-point administrative order to restrict student organisations.

“No ethnic, political or sectarian student groups will be allowed to hold programmes at the university or the hostel premises,” it read. It added that all necessary steps will be adopted on an urgent basis to depoliticise student wings. “No student faction with links to any political party will be allowed to operate on campus.” Furthermore, the order added that that no student faction would be allowed to put up any stalls during the admission process. It is pertinent to mention here that the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) set up camps outside departments during admission time.

The letter also restricted the use of loudspeakers. “No slogan of any kind will be allowed on loudspeakers during programmes of any department on campus or the hostels”. Additionally, the administration also limited the invitation of guests.

“No political, social or religious personality can be invited by a department to any event without the written permission of the university administration. Furthermore, any such event will be arranged within the auditorium/lecture room of the department concerned to avoid any external interference”.

The letter was issued on Wednesday after a meeting of the Committee of Deans on March 22 and 23. It again reiterated the restrictions on media, which Punjab Higher Education Minister Raza Ali Gillani, during a TV show, claimed would not be imposed. “The media will be allowed to enter the premises of the university only if it is invited by the university itself. No individual will be allowed to give any kind of interview/briefing to print or electronic media on any issue. Any interaction with the media will be made through the university spokesperson or nominee.”

To end reported illegal occupation of university hostel, the letters said the Hall Council chairman, wardens and superintendents are responsible to evict such elements. It was stated that a list of legal students and illegal occupants must be prepared and be submitted to the Registrar’s office through the Hall Council chairman on an immediate basis.

Biometric System and CCTV Cameras will also be installed in all the hostels and no guests of male students will be allowed to enter the area.

Additionally, all heads of teaching departments had been directed to provide a list of students who were involved in any kind of political, sectarian or inappropriate ethnic activities, along with photocopies of their admission forms.

Students had been directed to display their university ID cards.

“An undertaking on affidavit of Rs100 will be submitted by every student, countersigned by their father/guardian at the time of admission in any discipline and programme,” the letter concluded.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2017.