LAHORE: Students from the Institute of Mycology and Plant Pathology (IMPP) Punjab University Lahore not only forced their way in the Faisal Auditorium and protested, where Lord Nazir Ahmad from the British House of Lords was delivering a speech, but also lounged themselves in front of his car when he was leaving.
PU security guards, working under PU Chief Security Officer (CSO) Col. (r) Khalid Hasan, could do little to control the students and only roughed up a few after the stunt.
THE STUNT: IMPP students have been agitating for the last seven months claiming that the degrees they were being awarded were not even recognised in Pakistan. PU administration was aware of students’ agitation and escorted Lord Nazir in the hall from the back door to avert his encounter with the angry students but could not pre-empt the route the protesters would take.
Students being tricked by administration got further infuriated and forcibly entered the hall. The students later stopped Lord Nazir’s car by laying in front. The guards started beating the students, not even sparing the journalists and even Assistant Security Officer (ASO) Muhammad Shaukat raised objectionable words against the media.
Later, PU VC cooled down the situation and the students allowed the guests to leave. An IMPP student said that the varsity did not address to their demands which forced them to adopt this way. He said Dr Amin Ather was the main obstacle in the way of a swift solution and they will protest on Monday as well and will burn the effigy of Dr Amin Ather.
SECURITY MISMANAGEMENT: The university officials, annoyed by the protest, blamed Col. Khalid and ASO for the mismanagement and demanded stern action against their failure. PU senior official said that PU VC should appoint a competent officer to lead the security at PU.
He said that more than 200 security guards worked for the university under a retired army colonel and it was tragic that these security guards could do nothing. VC’s Adviser Col. (r) Ikram Ullah has instructed the Col. Khalid to investigate and submit a report on the issue.
PU Academic Staff Association General Secretary Prof Javed Sami and PU Registrar Prof Dr Muhammad Akhtar have condemned the misbehaviour on part of the IMPP students. Prof. Sami said that the grievances of IMPP students had already been resolved and it was a bunch of outsiders and expelled students who was spoiling PU’s atmosphere.
