Punjab University (PU) administration has failed to control motorcycle theft from the varsity as on Friday one more student from PU Political Science Department lost his bike from the hostels’ area. PU students condemned the administration for being unable to control thefts and said they will protest in the coming days against the poor security arrangements in hostels. PU students gathered at the hostels, where Ahmad was found lamenting on the loss of his motorcycle. Ahmad said he was not rich enough to immediately afford another bike, and he claimed that he lost his bike owing to poor security arrangements. Last week PU students blocked the canal road to protest against the escalating bike thefts at the varsity.
THEY SAY, ‘YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN’: Yesterday, students said security officials directed students to secure their vehicles on their own instead of looking up to them, and told the students that they were not responsible for such incidents.
The Punjab University Academic Staff Association (PUASA) office barriers held a press conference at varsity a couple of days ago and condemned the current administration for poor security arrangements at varsity. A student, seeking anonymity, said around 300 guards were getting salaries from the varsity but failed to maintain security.
POLICEMAN WORRIED: A police official at the Muslim Town Police Station told Pakistan Today that police was also worried over the rising number of motorcycle thefts in the university over the past three years, and wondered why PU was unable to control these incidents. He said that only 40 policemen in Muslim Town Police Station were responsible to cater to crimes incidents in their precincts, while 300 PU security guards failed to control activities in their campus. He said PU administrations and the government should take notice of this situation, which could worsen. He said PU guards were equipped with vehicles and communication system too was available, thus they should make use of it.
SECURITY FAILED: A PU official, seeking anonymity, said university’s security officer was utilizing ‘colossal funds’ for the maintenance of security at the campus and PU VC too provided them with every facility they demanded. He said that last year PU VC provided walky-talky sets to the security guards to facilitate speedy communication, but still security personnel could not handle affairs. He said PU administration also hired the services of a retired major Arif for security but his experience also failed. He said that it was a lamentable situation when motorcycles were being stolen from the varsity on daily basis.
UNACCOMMODATING STUDENTS: Arshad Butt, a security officer at the Punjab University in hostel areas, claimed that bike thefts were taking place because of the carelessness on the part of students. He said, “We cannot place guards for every motorbike; students have to park bikes at the designated places.” He said PU had also placed security personnel in civilian clothing. He said students were not ready to listen to security officers when we stop a bike.
