Several Islami Jamiat Talaba members barged onto campus lawns on Tuesday where a sports gala was going on, they snatched mobile phones from students and manhandled some instructors, the Punjab University spokesperson has said.
He said some IJT members who had been expelled from the university and some PU students had misbehaved with instructors of the College of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the sports gala organised by the college and vandalised a teacher’s car.
The spokesperson said that during the sports gala, the college principal had received a note from the IJT demanding he stop the sports activities. When the college administration did not give in to the IJT’s pressure, around 15 IJT members forced entry onto the college ground and manhandled senior faculty members. They also pushed students around, snatched their mobile phones and handbags.
He said they detained six teachers, six girls and 15 boys. Education Minister Rana Mashhood Khan was informed, he sent police. He said the IJT members dispersed as soon as the police arrived. No case has been registered against the IJT members.
In a separate incident, some IJT members misbehaved with an instructor of the Geography Department. The spokesperson said that some IJT members were trying to disrupt the peaceful environment at the PU. He said recent incidents had exposed them for what they truly are – hooligans. He said any threats to PU’s academic environment would be dealt with according to the law. Strict action would be taken against these students, he said.
The IJT rejected the allegations in a statement. The statement said that the CEES had arranged for a music and dance event. When some students objected, they were beaten up. IJT Nazim at the PU, Abdul Muqeet, rejected the accusations and said teachers should not promote a culture of shamelessness at the varsity.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 19th, 2014.