NSF and civil society stand against IJT

The National Student Federation (NSF) and members of the civil society on Sunday held a protest in front of the Lahore Press Club to condemn brutalities by the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) in the Punjab University (PU). The NSF criticised the IJT for torturing teachers and students and misbehaving with females and faculty members of the varsity. The NSF and civil society members shouted slogans and displayed banners and posters carrying anti-IJT slogans. The NSF issued a press release on this occasion highlighting concerns of all members of the society over recent activities of the IJT. The IJT activists had beaten a student of the Philosophy Department and misbehaved with female students and faculty members earlier this week. Protesting on such open hooliganism by the IJT, the students and teachers of the Philosophy Department boycotted classes and held a protest. Aggrieved by the protest, the IJT invaded hostel # 7, residence of philosophy students, and beat them with sticks and guns. They abused Hostel Superintendent Professor Shahid Gul and fired bullets injuring the hostel assistant superintendent and gatekeeper. The police did not arrive at the scene despite repeated calls. The NSF protestors demanded the Punjab government take stern action against the IJT and hold student unions’ elections in educational institutions to eliminate such violent elements from the educational campuses. Diep, a human right activist, said it was shameful on the part of the provincial government to let such brutality continue at the PU.