LAHORE: Fifteen students of the Punjab University were injured when the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) allegedly attacked a cultural show of the Pashtun Council on the university campus on Monday.

The incident occurred outside the PU Law College where the students had gathered to attend the Pashtun Council’s cultural programme, including the Attan dance, a part of Pashtun cultural tradition.

Witnesses reported that the tempers flared when the IJT activists, allegedly armed with batons, approached the peaceful gathering of the Pashtun students and began hurling stones at them.

The situation further escalated when the Pashtun Council members sought refuge in Hailey College and the IJT activists reportedly followed them, damaging the college property by smashing doors and windows.

The PU security guards played the role of silent spectators. A heavy contingent of police arrived at the scene and dispersed the students.

Pashtun Council President Arif Kakar said the IJT and the council members of the law department had agreed to hold their separate programmes as the IJT held its programme in the morning and the council had to conduct its programme in the afternoon. But as soon as the council members started their programme, he added, the IJT activists attacked them and injured five of the council members.

Mr Kakar alleged that the IJT activists always attacked other organisations’ gatherings and promoted fascism in the university.

On the other hand, the IJT spokesperson claimed that a Quran session was happening at the law college when the Pashtun students attacked them. He said the 10 members of his organisation were injured and they were under treatment at the Jinnah Hospital.

Law College Principal Amanullah Malik, in his report submitted with the VC, said that the IJT had carried out the attack on the gathering of the Pashtun students.

The PU spokesperson said action would be taken against the students involved in the attack on the cultural programme and injuring students. He said that the disciplinary committee would hold a meeting and would also impose penalties on the students.

SUSPENDED: PU Vice Chancellor Prof Muhammad Ali Shah suspended Chief Security Officer (CSO) retired Col Ubaid Masood from service.

Resident Officer-I retired Col Umar Khalid was assigned the additional charge of the post of CSO in addition to his own duties.

PU Registrar Dr Ahmad Alam issued the notification of the suspension of the CSO which did not mention any cause of suspension. The CSO had been working with the university since 2016.

A senior official told Dawn that the CSO was removed after he was found guilty for violence against a peaceful students rally last week. He said the Punjab government fact-finding committee had directed the administration to remove the CSO for his involvement in creating law and order situation on the campus.

The official said that the CSO also had refused to work with the university, stating that he was quitting the job to work in a private company. He added that the administration would hold interviews for the post of CSO soon.

However, the PU spokesman said the university had not received any fact-finding report of the clash between students and security guards.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2024