Ethnic strife has started in Punjab University after five students were critically injured in a clash between Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba and students from Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA, Pakistan Today has learnt.
According to the reports, students from Balochistan, KP and FATA organised a welcome party in a Pathan student’s room in Hostel No. 4 for the new students who had got admitted to the university. However, IJT members told the organisers that no party could be organised without their permission. The security officer of the university reached the location and resolved the matter ‘amicably’.
However, at around 10pm, members of IJT from both within and outside the PU reached Hostel No. 4, fired guns and hit the new students as well as the organiser. Some of the students were in critical conditions and were sent to the ICU. IJT also threatened the students from other provinces and told them that they would be killed if they entered the university.
In retaliation, Pakhtun students gathered and attacked IJT Nazim-e-Aala Rai Haq Nawaz’s room, who managed to escape the scene. Meanwhile, IJT’s members ransacked the office of the estate officer, Zubair Butt. For around 24 hours, around a dozen new students from the other provinces were not allowed to enter the university. The students approached Vice Chancellor Mujahid Kamran for help who said that he could not say anything to the IJT but would write to Punjab Chief Minster Shahbaz Sharif to provide security to the students. In the letter, the VC wrote that ethnic strife had started in the hostels and the “IJT have fortified their position in the hostels and the Pakhtoon students have been contacting Pathan students living in Lahore.”
Over 150 students from Balochistan, KP and FATA study in the PU. The students have threatened that if security were not to be provided to them by today (Friday) they would leave Punjab for good.
The students also held demonstration against IJT and said that it was terrorist organisation that was against education and should be banned. They said all kinds of weapons should also be banned in PU. Police officers from various stations visited the protesting students but did not extend any kind of protection to them.
“Why are people playing with our future? It is the Punjab government’s job to provide security to us. Our lives should be protected from these terrorists,” one of the injured Baloch students said, adding that students came to PU to study and not to learn the use of weapons. “This organisation is so strong that even the VC is afraid of them,” they said, adding that if the menace of IJT should be nipped in the bud.
Jamaat-e-Islami Deputy Secretary General Fareed Ahmed Paracha said that the PU administration and the police should resolve the issue according the facts on the ground. “I am very sad to hear about this incident, our sympathies are with the students who were injured and were barred from entering the university,” he said, adding that JI did not support any kind of ethnic strife.
These Jamatiay should be sent to jial and be given stern punishment and not allowed back out of the prison till they are in their 50's
Jamaat will use the anti-Pathan sentiments of Punjabis.
Strange Jamatis haven’t put the blame on MQM
jamat.e.islami and his terorist organizatiion is supporting by establishment, they also involved interference in afghanistan, this has only form for pashton enemy. Why they islamist not go in israel, where they when ramond davis crashed pakistanis in lahore, they r a terrorist and should be declare as terorist organization in pakistan bcz they also have a link with al.qaida and taliban.
shut on ijt students and punjab govt both are aganest pashtoon and balooch
yes i am also agree with you actually they are "terrorists" and using the name of "Islam" only . Now the time has come to stand against these " Terrorists" Our Media and Social websites can do something only because they have tremendous power
If you are not Jammiat supporter and try to gather any study tour, trip, group in Punjab University, you will be in trouble with these thugs! needless to say you cant have non-date meeting with your female class fellows unless you join them.
Its not ethinic but any opposition from a single student or group of students threats Jammiat and they react like goons. The Macho CM should do what NS done when he was CM of punjab, just remove such elements from University.
One sided reporting…
Jamiat is only non ethnic student organization
I would say the matter should be taken seriously. Why Jamiat did so we don't know their view point. sometime we people go beyond the limitation and infuriate the other to do something wrong. IJT is a very peaceful organization and do its level best to maintain education-friendly environment in universities. They do book fair and other student welfare activities. lets have their view point and that would fair for mediation
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