KU students learn life’s harsh lessons

The administration of the University of Karachi (KU) has failed to provide security to female students of the varsity, despite receiving complaints from a considerable number of students and making tall claims to take action in this regard. Many female students of the university’s evening programme are quite commonly, in addition to being misbehaved with, robbed of their mobile phones and valuables.
Negligence on the part of the university management has caused the pedestrian bridge recently constructed opposite the varsity’s Silver Jubilee Gate to become a curse for students rather than a blessing. With security nowhere to be seen, the bridge has become home to hooligans who frequently misbehave with female students and deprive them of their mobile phones, money and other valuables. A similar incident was reported recently, involving five evening-programme students.
Qulsoom, Sumbul, Ayesha, Mariam and Hurma left the university around 8:30 pm after attending their classes. Little did they know that they had more things to learn when they would try crossing the bridge to take a bus home. When the five girls ascended the bridge, a ruffian lying in wait sprang up in front of them and said, “I have a pistol and if you don’t cooperate, you’ll be sorry.” He, however, did not show them his pistol.
One of the girls tried arguing, but the culprit flew off the handle and whacked her for her courage. The panicky girls then handed over their mobile phones and other valuables to avoid further troubles. The crook pocketed his loot and descended the bridge from the side the girls had ascended it. The girls had no other option but to raise a hue and cry after descending the bridge.
A Pakistan Army captain passing by heard their cries and tried to pursue the bandit, but the criminal was long gone. Police reached the spot after a while and, as usual, only listened to the girls’ story. One of the girls said that since there was a banner affixed to the bridge, they had no way of knowing the robber was hiding behind it until they had ascended the bridge. Sumbul said that they were robbed of every single rupee and were left with nothing to return or call home.
“We study with our own money and pay more than the students of the morning programme, but the university administration is the least bothered about our problems,” she added. Mariam said that the university shuttle service was also suspended for a month and the students had to head home on their own. KU PRO Qamar Rizvi said, “Since the incident happened outside the university premises, it is not our responsibility. Anything that happens inside the premises, however, is our problem.”
KU Security Officer Syed Iftikhar Alam Jaffrey expressed his ignorance regarding the situation, but said that he would deploy a security guard at the bridge and that the administration would look into the matter. Mobina Town SHO Imran Bashir said that he was unaware of the incident. “Provide me with the IMEI numbers and the calling numbers being used in the mobile phones. I shall try to recover them soon,” he added. Bashir said that he did not have enough policemen to deploy them between 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm at the bridge.
“When I have enough personnel, I shall deploy some at the bridge,” he added.