No Punjab varsity to allow events by students

LAHORE: Reaffirming its pledge to rid the educational institutions of violence, the Punjab government has restrained the students of all public-sector universities from holding any function on their campuses.

The provincial higher education department has written to the public universities and directed them to ensure that “activities by students in the name of holding functions should not be allowed in order to ensure conducive educational environment. Such activities must be under the administrative control of the vice chancellor without exception.”

According to an official, the government has taken the decision in the wake of a clash between two Punjab University students groups (Islami Jamiat Tulaba and Pakhtun students) last month in which 10 students were injured. The clash had taken place over the issue of holding a cultural function by Pakhtun students and police arrested more than 20 students and registered cases against 200 people.

Two committees – one of the Higher Education Department and the other of the Punjab University – were constituted to probe the matter. “Both committees have submitted their reports and the varsity administration will initiate action against those involved in the violence in the light of the findings of both reports,” an official of the Higher Education Department told Dawn on Tuesday.

The committees viewed the footage of the clash and also quizzed the students of both organisations, some teachers and officials of the varsity. “The IJT had organised its function on its own which the administration should have stopped. Had it intervened, the clash between the two groups could have been averted,” he said.

The official further said to ensure peaceful environment in the PU and other varsities, the Higher Education Department had taken this decision to ban “holding of functions by the student groups”.

“This will not only weaken the student groups but also empower the administration to establish its writ,” he said.

Punjab Higher Education Minister Syed Raza Ali Gilani said on Tuesday the student groups would not be allowed to operate on campuses. At a function in the PU, the minister also asked teachers to play their important role in engaging students in educational activities.

Source: Dawn