The suspected pro-Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and pro-Islami Jamiat Talba (IJT) teachers allegedly involved in supporting extremist elements who attacked Punjab University (PU) Professor Dr Shaukat Ali’s house surprisingly joined a rally launched to condemn the incident, Pakistan Today learnt on Wednesday.
On the other hand, sources disclosed that the alleged IJT attackers were supported by colleagues and were hiding in the PU residential colony where the pro-IJT teachers had planned the attack.
The PU faculty members condemned the pro-JI and IJT teachers and demanded the government to launch an operation in PU hostels and residential colony to find and eradicate the local Taliban and seize their weapons.
Around 400 PU teachers who rallied against the attack on Shaukat’s house were surprised to see a number of pro-IJT and JI teachers, allegedly involved in planning the attack, protesting with them.
The rally, organised at PU by the teachers on Wednesday, was attended by members of civil society and students. PU Academic Staff Association (PUASA) President Maher Saeed Akhtar who had refused to take action against the perpetrators, also attended the rally.
A female PU professor seeking anonymity said pro-JI teachers who played politics in the name of Islam had now been exposed and everyone at PU knew who they were. She said: “The presence of Maher Saeed Akhtar and Dr Abdul Ghaffar at the rally is proof that they will attend your funeral after killing you.” She said IJT workers and Mansoor’s employees were inducted as professors, deans and directors and were now threatening teachers.
Another female professor also seeking anonymity asked how females could work at the PU where teachers themselves were in league with those who aided violence. “What can female teachers do in a campus where even male teachers are not safe from other teachers,” she said. She promised the PU VC support from the female faculty if he acted against the corruption of pro-IJT teachers.
Meanwhile, Dr Shaukat addressed the PU faculty and brought to their knowledge the non-cooperative attitude of PUASA President Maher Saeed Akhtar.
Around 400 faculty members held a meeting in the Al-Raazi Hall of Centre for Undergraduate Studies New Campus against yesterday’s shooting at the house of PU Syndicate Member, Disciplinary Committee Member and Physics Department Chairman Prof Dr Shaukat Ali. Deans of faculties, heads of departments and a large number of male and female teachers attended the meeting. The house unanimously condemned the incident.
Addressing the gathering, Prof Dr Shaukat Ali declared the incident a ‘terrorist’ activity aimed at harassment and said it constituted a murder threat. Dr Shaukat said he was a member of administrative committees and had resisted the barbarism of IJT students. He said he was a member of the syndicate conducting inquiries against students who were involved in hooliganism and terrorising students in the varsity. He said that the varsity guards Mehmood and Waheed were the eye-witnesses of the incident. He said if any member of his family was home at the time of firing they may have lost their lives. He declared that he feared that the lives of all his family members were in danger. Officers Welfare Association representatives also strongly condemned the attack on the house of Dr Shaukat Ali.
After the meeting, participants took out a huge rally from the Centre to Gate No 2, holding placards against hooliganism. The participants demanded launching of operation in hostels and ouster of illegal occupants. They also demanded that the provincial government initiate legal proceedings against the expelled students nominated in the first information report. A number of female teachers were also present on the occasion.
PU dean committee condemned firing: Punjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran presided over an emergency meeting of deans of all faculties in his office committee room here on Wednesday. Prof Dr Shaukat Ali, Adviser Student Affairs Iftikhar Ahmad Chaudhry and RO-I Javed Sami were also present on the occasion. The meeting unanimously passed a resolution condemning the firing incident at the house of Prof Dr Shaukat Ali and expressed solidarity with him. Later, SP Muslim Town Muntazar Mehdi called on VC Dr Mujahid Kamran. SP Mehdi assured the swift arrest of all nominated in the FIR.
PUASA President Maher Saeed Akhtar refuted the charges against him and condemned the incident.
