In custody: Dr Alqama allowed medical treatment, family visitations

Scores of BZU students held a demonstration demanding that Dr Alqama be released and reinstated

MULTAN:

The Multan Bench of Lahore High Court on Wednesday granted former Bahauddin Zakariya University vice chancellor Khawaja Alqama permission to meet close relatives and get medical help. Dr Alqama is currently in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau.

The petition requesting permission for visitation and medical treatment was moved by Dr Alqama’s wife Ayesha Khawaja. She had requested the court to consider her husband’s deteriorating medical condition and allow his family to visit him. She also said her husband was suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, ulcers and skin problems. Khawaja asked the court to direct NAB authorities to arrange for his medical check-up, allow him to meet his family, and requested that he be served homemade food.

Her lawyer Advocate Jamshaid Hayat said that Alqama was sent on physical remand in the National Accountability Bureau’s custody on October 28. He said Alqama had been denied medical treatment by NAB officials. “This is a basic constitutional right.”

Alqama is accused of procedural irregularities and of embezzling close to Rs200 million.

Illegal appointments

The Multan bench of Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday rejected the bail plea of former Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) registrar Malik Munir.

Munir had been nabbed by the Anti-Corruption Establishment in connection with the bogus appointment of 16 administrative officials at the varsity. A Special Anti-Corruption Court had remanded him in ACE custody for investigation. Munir’s counsel said his client was not involved in the alleged appointments. He requested the court to accept his post-arrest bail petition and cancel the remand.

At a previous hearing, Justice Aslam Javed Minhas had summoned the case record from the ACE. ACE officials presented the record before the court today. The judge rejected bail plea of the petitioner following the conclusion of arguments. The erstwhile BZU registrar was sent to jail on a 14-day judicial remand on the orders of the court on Wednesday

Students protest

Scores of Bahauddin Zakariaya University students held a demonstration on Bosan Road to protest against, what they called, was discriminatory attitude towards Dr Alqama. The students held placards and banners demanding his release.

“It is heart wrenching to see a teacher being manhandled by police,” Sadia Talib, a student, said.

“The difference in treatment meted out to model Ayyan Ali and Dr Alqama, both awaiting trial, is a matter of shame for state institutions and all citizens.”

Ghazanfar Abbas, another protester, said, “We cannot tolerate the inhumane and dishonourable behaviour of the police in dealing with a teacher.” VIP protocol is given to model Ayyan Ali when she appears in court, while Dr Alqama, one of the most respected instructors in the country, is treated like a common criminal.

Shahzaib Akbar, another student, said, “We hold Dr Alqama in high esteem. We will stand by him till he is reinstated to his former position.” He said the way the incident had played out had not only insulted the former vice chancellor, but also the profession of teaching.

The students said that former vice chancellor was innocent and that the Lahore campus authorities were responsible for the irregularities.

Several members of the Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry also joined the students and said that the way police were manhandling the ex-vice chancellor was an insult to all teachers.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2015.