External forces are behind the recent unrest that claimed two lives in clashes between student groups this week, said Karakoram International University (KIU)Vice-Chancellor Dr Najma Najam on Saturday.
Her comments came days after a sectarian clash between two student groups left two people dead and seven others injured in Gilgit on Wednesday, nearly six kilometres from KIU. Section 144 was imposed in the city the day after the incident and the university campus was closed. It will reopen on March 4.
During the press conference, the VC said that the achievements of KIU were not being given due acknowledgement while the negative issues were unnecessarily highlighted. She appealed to the locals to respect the educational institute.
Registrar KIU Shahid Ali said that at the time of the clash the district administration did not extend its support to the KIU administration. The forces deployed near the university did not act when the fighting erupted, he said adding, “When the outsiders were trying to break in, security forces stationed outside the campus did not stop them despite the KIU management’s repeated requests,” he said.
Ali added that the university has requested the district administration to supply more security personnel, but they did not respond.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2012.
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