A Punjab University spokesman has strongly rebuffed the ‘baseless’ allegations leveled by the Islami Jamiat-e-Tulba, regarding the involvement of Punjab University College of Information and Technology Principal Prof Dr Mansoor in Awais Aqeel’s murder.
He said the IJT allegations were fabricated and no basis in truth. The PU spokesman stated that according to the FIR lodged by IJT activist Nauman Zafar, the stance of the IJT, which he described as the ‘bone of contention’ was described in the FIR as: “Two months ago, Awais Aqeel, Asim Mehmood and the accused, Ibrar Watto, had quarreled and the accused opened fire on Aqeel and Mehmood to kill them. Mahmood was seriously injured, while Aqeel was killed in the incident.
The FIR also cites Aqeel as the complainant in the case. The spokesman said it proved that the murder was a result of an internal clash between the accused and the deceased.
Defending Dr Sarwar, the spokesman said the professor had an extraordinary academic record and his books on IT were being taught in more than 200 US universities as textbooks.
He said Dr Sarwar had previously taught at the University of Portland and at LUMS, before joining the Punjab University.
The spokesman said Dr Sarwar’s achievements were praised by the Higher Education Commission, which said he had turned the PUCIT into the best IT college in the public sector.
The PU spokesman said Dr Sarwar’s honesty, educational and administrative skills had worried the elements who felt threatened by him.
He added that only one organisation was behind all the incidents of violence on campus.
PU faculty condemns attack on PU teachers: A meeting of the PU Chemistry Department faculty members was held under the chairmanship of Director Prof Dr Makshoof Athar. The meeting condemned the manhandling of Physics Department Chairman Prof Dr Shoukat Ali, Dr Ehsan Sharif and Dr Ijaz Ahmad by the IJT activists.
The faculty members demanded the varsity administration and the Punjab government to arrest and punish the culprits involved in the incident at the earliest so that such incidents could be avoided in the future.
