A love-hate situation: Peshawar University vacates hostel as student clashes continue
Three rooms burnt down after another spat following the clash on Valentine’s Day.
PkSF activists were accused of attacking IJT members on campus and burning three of their rooms in Block B. PHOTOS: PPI
PESHAWAR:
Mindful of escalating violence between two student unions, the University of Peshawar’s (UoP) administration has vacated blocks A and B of the new hostel. The decision was taken after another clash erupted between the Awami National Party (ANP) backed Pukhtun Students Federation (PkSF) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) backed Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) on Monday.
The police arrested 19 PkSF members after they allegedly stormed Block B of the hostel and set three rooms belonging to IJT members on fire on Monday.
“We have arrested 19 people, including two who possessed TT pistols. They fired in the air excessively and at the police squad sent after them,” said a campus policeman.
Monday’s clash was round two of a conflict which cropped up between PkSF and IJT over celebrating Valentine’s Day and Haya Day on February 14.
Three students were injured after IJT allegedly tried to bar students from observing the Feast of St Valentine which PkSF insisted on celebrating. The rooms of PkSF members at the university dorms were also burnt and the PkSF believed it was done by IJT. UoP administration constituted a committee to probe the issue and filed cases against IJT activists.
On Monday, IJT campus nazim Shahzaman Durrani held a news conference at Peshawar Press Club, demanding the UoP administration lodge FIRs against both sides. He accused PkSF activists of attacking IJT members on campus and burning three of their rooms in Block B.
“None of the IJT members fired back since the majority of our members were here at the press club. They (PkSF) opened fire and burnt down our rooms,” claimed Durrani. IJT members planned to hold a protest on campus after Maghrib prayers.
PkSF leader Mukarrab Khan told The Express Tribune some people, posing as IJT activists, entered the campus and started firing at PkSF activists.
“We opened fire at them. They escaped but we could not stop our members – who were furious – from setting fire to IJT rooms.” Khan shared PkSF has lodged cases against IJT activists.
Following the attacks, UoP administration vacated Block A and B of the student hostel.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 18th, 2014.
Mindful of escalating violence between two student unions, the University of Peshawar’s (UoP) administration has vacated blocks A and B of the new hostel. The decision was taken after another clash erupted between the Awami National Party (ANP) backed Pukhtun Students Federation (PkSF) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) backed Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) on Monday.
The police arrested 19 PkSF members after they allegedly stormed Block B of the hostel and set three rooms belonging to IJT members on fire on Monday.
“We have arrested 19 people, including two who possessed TT pistols. They fired in the air excessively and at the police squad sent after them,” said a campus policeman.
Monday’s clash was round two of a conflict which cropped up between PkSF and IJT over celebrating Valentine’s Day and Haya Day on February 14.
Three students were injured after IJT allegedly tried to bar students from observing the Feast of St Valentine which PkSF insisted on celebrating. The rooms of PkSF members at the university dorms were also burnt and the PkSF believed it was done by IJT. UoP administration constituted a committee to probe the issue and filed cases against IJT activists.
On Monday, IJT campus nazim Shahzaman Durrani held a news conference at Peshawar Press Club, demanding the UoP administration lodge FIRs against both sides. He accused PkSF activists of attacking IJT members on campus and burning three of their rooms in Block B.
“None of the IJT members fired back since the majority of our members were here at the press club. They (PkSF) opened fire and burnt down our rooms,” claimed Durrani. IJT members planned to hold a protest on campus after Maghrib prayers.
PkSF leader Mukarrab Khan told The Express Tribune some people, posing as IJT activists, entered the campus and started firing at PkSF activists.
“We opened fire at them. They escaped but we could not stop our members – who were furious – from setting fire to IJT rooms.” Khan shared PkSF has lodged cases against IJT activists.
Following the attacks, UoP administration vacated Block A and B of the student hostel.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 18th, 2014.