Protestors block Kashmir Highway

IJT officials say that they would lock down entire Islamabad if the suspects were not arrested soon

ISLAMABAD: Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT) blocked the Kashmir Highway to protest against the failure of the police to arrest the suspects nominated in the murder of IJT activist Tufailur Rehman.

A clash between two groups of students at International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) on Thursday left Rehman dead and 20 others injured.

The traffic on the main thoroughfare remained suspended due to the large number of protesters who chanted slogans against the university’s management and Islamabad administration.

IJT Nazim-e-Aala Muhammad Amir in his speech said that the IIUI rector visited the deceased student’s family for condolence after four days. He added that job offer to the martyr’s family members proved the rector’s involvement in the incident.

Amir demanded to include him in the investigation process. Later, the deputy commissioner (DC) Islamabad reached the protest site and  assured IJT officials that they would be kept updated with the case progress on a daily basis. After this assurance, the protesters dispersed and the traffic was restored.

IJT officials said that they would lock down entire Islamabad if the suspects were not arrested soon.

During the protest, the speakers accused the varsity administration of supporting the ethnic groups and said that it was being done from the top.

They contended that varsity administration has given free hand to the violent elements among students which has cost an innocent life. 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18^th, 2019.