LAHORE: The Punjab University (PU) new administration’s reported ‘placatory gesture’ towards a student body doesn’t seem to have gone down well with many on the campus.

Other student groups such as Insaf Students Federation (ISF) and Baloch Students Council (BSC) and a section of the teaching community have questioned what they believe is the administration’s decision to give a ‘free hand’ to the Islami Jamiat Tulaba (IJT) to carry out its activities.

They are of the view that all student groups should be given equal opportunities to conduct ‘student welfare’ activities on campus. “Any discriminatory approach will not only help a student body strengthen itself but also create problems for a regular vice chancellor in establishing the writ of the varsity after assuming the charge,” goes the argument.

They have aired their concern after some students affiliated with the IJT recently got a respite on the order of provisional Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zafar Mueen Nasir who struck down the hall council chairman’s notification of expulsion of the students involved in violence and wanted by the Muslim Town police in some cases.

Besides, they objected to the VC’s meeting with the IJT representatives who were asked to refrain from doing violence and anti-administration protests and in return it (the administration) would allow it ‘student welfare’ activities on campus.

Prof Nasir justified his decision of cancelling the notification saying it was issued without taking him on board as he (VC) was supposed to be briefed on any matter related to law and order on campus. He dispelled the impression about having soft corner for any student group and said the university students affiliated with the IJT were not allowed to hold any political activity on campus.

“They have not been given a free hand. At a meeting with the administration, they (students affiliated with the IJT) pledged to work for the promotion of academic culture on campus and that they will avoid anything that brings a bad name to the varsity,” he said.

Equally dismayed at the move are the teachers and officials associated with the previous administration. “Giving kind of free hand may have serious repercussions. The IJT will strengthen itself at various institutions within the varsity and hostels during the interim period of the provisional VC and will be in a position to cause problems for any administration at will,” an official told Dawn.

“Thanks to leniency of the administration, the IJT students are involved in wall chalking and forcing vendors at hostels to revise rates which is tantamount to challenging the writ of the administration,” he said while claiming that the previous administration had effectively clipped their wings to prevent any ‘political’ activity.

According to the former functionary, there are not more than 40 IJT activists on campus. “What they do is bring students from other colleges to put up a political show in the PU. It is with this background we urge the new VC not to succumb to the pressure and to review his policy,” he said.

Expressing his apprehensions, ISF Punjab Information Secretary Monim Tariq Lodhi told Dawn if those involved in violence on campus were spared, it would make it difficult for the administration to establish its writ. He said the university should allow all student organisations to carry out their welfare activities.

Imran Kakar, a representative of Baloch Students Council, also spoke out against what he said discrimination. “The varsity must have a uniform policy towards all student groups,” he suggested.

Recalling the previous administrations’ practice, a senior teacher commented: “During my 22-year career I have seen that almost all administrations first try a conciliatory approach towards the IJT but eventually they have to crack down on the activists involved in violent activities.”

He cited Tuesday’s incident of torture of a PU law college student allegedly by the IJT for tweeting in favour of a missing blogger. “This is what happens when any new administration goes for an understanding with the IJT,” he remarked.

The IJT vehemently denies its involvement in the torture of the law student. “The IJT holds pro-Islam and pro-Pakistan programmes in the varsity and it is only concerned about the welfare of the students,” IJT (PU) spokesman Taimur Khan told Dawn.

“Our opponents accuse us of violence whenever there is a fight among students on any issue,” he claimed.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2017