Punjab University: Hostels are sanctuaries of militants, says VC

Accepts failure to keep dorms free of militants.

LAHORE:

Islami Jamiat Talba, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, is harbouring militants in the Punjab University hostels, Dr Mujahid Kamran, the university’s vice chancellor, said on Tuesday.

“Illegal occupants were living in PU hostels,” Dr Kamran said, accepting his failure to keep the hostels free of elements involved in militant activities.

Recently, intelligence agencies have arrested a suspect believed to be an associate of al Qaeda from the PU hostel.

He did not answer media queries why the university administration had not taken action against the illegal occupants, but said a police operation could be launched to dislodge such elements from the hostels.

However, Jamiat has refuted the claim. IJT Punjab southern nazim Rai Haq Nawaz and IJT nazim of PU Abdul Muqeet accused the VC of “trying to defame Jamiat” to hide his own inefficiency.

“IJT has no connection with any banned organisation. The university administration is shifting the blame on the IJT to save its own skin,” Haq Nawaz said. “The VC has hired a personal militia for his protection but there are no guards for the hostels,” Muqeet said.

The administration and hostel wardens give refuge to illegal residents at the hostels and then use the name of IJT, the office bearers said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th, 2013.