Government draws PPP flak for violence on campus

Party alleges presence of non-student elements in PU hostels.

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has urged the provincial government and Punjab University vice chancellor to improve law and order on the campus after a clash among students.

The Muslim Town police registered a case over torture on students. The incident had taken place in the hostel area, disturbing academic activities in the university.

A number of students belonging to the Peoples Students Federation (PSF) had allegedly been attacked by activists of the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT), causing fear among the pupils and teachers. Dozens of similar incidents have been reported in the university during the past three months.

Addressing a news conference, PPP Central Punjab General Secretary Syed Hassan Murtaza said extremism and violence was at its peak in Punjab University.

He was accompanied by party leader Faisal Mir, Peoples Lawyers Forum Punjab President Raheel Kamran Cheema and PSF Central Punjab Information Secretary Sibt-e-Hassan.

Hassan Murtaza said the university's environment had been influenced by religious extremist groups and non-student elements occupied hostels. He alleged that hostel wardens and lecturers were affiliated with a religious party.

He demanded that the VC take strict action against miscreants.

Hassan Murtaza said students had also been attacked a few months ago when PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira had been invited to address a seminar on the campus. The leadership of Jamaat-e-Islami had apologised over the incident.

PU spokesman Khurram Shahzad said the university had lodged an FIR against the students involved in the incident and there would be no compromise over discipline. He said the university administration had taken stern action last week against students disturbing law and order.

Punjab University IJT Information Secretary Arslan Mayo said the Jamiat had no connection with the incident of torture in the hostel area. He alleged that the administration was trying to stop a festival that was scheduled soon.