Bad chemistry: Clash at NED over cricket tournament

The brawl broke out between the IJT and the APMSO when an inter-departmental cricket tournament was underway.

KARACHI:


At least seven activists were injured during a clash between two student organisations at NED University of Engineering and Technology Friday afternoon.


The brawl broke out between the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) and the All Pakistan Muttahida Students Organisation (APMSO) when an inter-departmental cricket tournament, organised by the IJT on campus, was underway.

The tournament itself and all classes came to a halt when both groups attacked each other with stones, sticks and iron rods. Luckily the injuries were not severe.


Tausif Aijaz, the APMSO's joint secretary, called the clash a "combined effort" of those "factions" who work in collusion to sabotage the peace of the city. "We all know what is happening in the city since morning," he said. "These extremist elements have a grand plan to disrupt the socio-political environment of the city. Now they wish to drag the educational institutions into this as well but we will not let them succeed in their wicked goals."

According to Aijaz, five APMSO activists - Usha, Zeeshan, Shahbaz, Talha, Kamran - were taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

The IJT's information secretary, Sohaib Ahmed, said the allegations were "preposterous". According to him, the IJT organises a cricket tournament every year on campus but some elements do not want to see any good work happen. "The attack was planned in order to disrupt the tournament, which started on July 19 with massive student participation," said Ahmed.

According to him, Shoaib and Talha were injured and had to be taken to Jinnah hospital.



Published in The Express Tribune, July 23rd, 2011.
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