IIUI body for probing ‘rowdy’ students

The apex committee of the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) has recommended probing the students who were allegedly involved in breaking turnstile gates on the male campus on March 21.

Panicked students had broken the turnstile gates of the male hostels after a powerful earthquake struck the capital city. The terrified students, who later also held a demonstration on the campus, alleged that the hostel administration put their lives at great risk by closing the turnstile gates.

As per the advisory issued in this regard, the students have to use turnstile gates to enter and exit hostels. They are also advised to keep university cards to show to the security staff in case of the unavailability of data.

After the incident, IIUI President Dr Hathal Hamoud Alotaibi had formed the apex committee to probe the incident and fix responsibility.

According to IIUI spokesperson Nasir Farid, the apex committee and the university administration reviewed matters related to the damages caused to the turnstile gates by some student groups, after the earthquake jolted the capital last Tuesday.

He said that at the meeting, it was recommended that those students who were involved in damaging the valuable assets of the university during the unfortunate incident must be interrogated and strict action should be taken against them by the university administration.

The meeting, held under the chair of Vice-President (administration and finance) Dr Nabi Bux Jumani reviewed matters pertaining to safety and security issues at hostels. It also discussed the matter of probe regarding the unfortunate incident that occurred at the turnstile gates of the university hostels, which the university administration said, was “scripted by some pressure groups to gain their undue and unlawful advantage and objective regarding hostel mess and illegal occupancy of hostel seats.”

The meeting was also attended by all vice-presidents, deans, director-generals, directors, provosts (male and female), students advisors’, security consultant and other officials of the committee.

A detailed briefing was taken from the stakeholders on the “planted” incident that occurred at the exit gates of the university hostels after the earthquake jolted on March 21. The spokesperson said that the IIUI vice-president, after watching the footage and content that went viral on social media, shared by student groups to defame the institution, asked all participants to share their opinion about the incident which happened at the exit gates of the hostel premises about half an hour after the earthquake.

The spokesperson said that all stakeholders said that the university management has taken strict measures to streamline the hostel seats and the mess system. They said that illegal occupants and some student groups were creating hurdles for the management.

He said that on the day of the earthquake, some student groups exerted pressure to stop the verification of student cards at the entry and exit points of the hostel.

The meeting participants further said that the incident occurred after almost half an hour after the earthquake as the student groups damaged the costly computerised verification and identification turnstile gates installed for the security and safety of hostel boarders at hostel blocks of the university.

The meeting participants also shared that to avoid such incidents, the university administration must take serious measures against the student groups.

The meeting participants also recommended for conducting mock exercises and safety and defense drills for the safety and security of students and employees.

The meeting chair also said that the university has taken initiatives to provide a peaceful and secure environment to students on campus.

The meeting participants agreed that all facts into the incident must be identified without any kind of internal or external pressure as the matter was “politicisd by some pressure groups.”

The committee also recommended that those who were involved in such unlawful activities and were trying to disturb the peaceful environment on the campus and found in the incident should face strict action. The matter was also referred to the students’ discipline committee to take up with security officials.

The house also recommended punishment for the culprits. It was also recommended that passed-out students if found involved in such activities or maligning the administration and the university should also be investigated and their degrees should be considered for cancellation.

The IIUI vice-president said that the university administration has already taken important steps for providing the best facilities to students on the campus and hostels and in this regard, the departments concerned have been asked to submit periodical reports to the administration to solve the basic needs and requirements of the students.

The meeting chair also recommended that a comprehensive report must be prepared before taking action against those allegedly involved in the incident.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 27^th, 2023.