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IJT takes over anti-IJT rally

* Student says those involved in attacks are ‘gangsters’ not students, will demolish peace
* IJT general secretary claims they did not disturb students, held their own ‘Defence of Pakistan Rally’
* ATI holds separate rally from press club to Governor’s House

By Adnan Lodhi

LAHORE: Punjab University (PU) Islami Jamiat Taliba (IJT) activists, in the presence of dozens of PU security guards, staged a show of their ‘strength’ and hijacked the a rally of PU students protesting against their actions.
PU students, along with students from the Anjuman-e-Taliba Islam (ATI) and other activists, staged a protest against the incident of shooting in the varsity on Tuesday night, in which IJT activists opened fire on PU students.
The IJT allegedly opened fire on a group of University Students Federation (USF), and injured nine people, out of which two were seriously wounded and are still admitted to the Jinnah Hospital. The governor met with the students at the hospital and expressed his concern over the incident. He also directed the Punjab inspector general and the Punjab University vice-chancellor to take action against those involved. On Wednesday, over 200 students from the university blocked the campus road for all kinds of traffic and protested against the incident.
On Friday, after the weekly prayers, students from the Insaf Students Federation (ISF) gathered in front of the PU central mosque and shouted slogans against the instigators of the violence. The protesters demanded the government eradicate all such terrorist elements from the varsity and arrest those responsible. However, during the protest, numerous IJT activists entered the protest and started shouting their own traditional slogans. Dozens of university security guards were reportedly present on the occasion, but they did not take any action.
Gangsters: A PU student, Bilal, said that the elements involved in the attacks were gangsters, not students, adding that they would demolish the peace. He said that the administration had failed to protect the students.
IJT: PU IJT General Secretary Qaiser Shrif said that they had not disturbed the students, and had held their own ‘Defence of Pakistan Rally’.
ATI Rally: The ATI organised a demonstration outside the Lahore Press Club against the IJT for its alleged hooliganism and afterwards held a march to the Governor’s House. Members from the USF also participated in the demonstration and expressed their and anger and concern over the incident. ATI nazim Muhammad Salman led the rally, while dozens of activists participated and chanted slogans against the IJT’s actions. They also chanted slogans supporting Governor Salmaan Taseer and his pro-education policies. Salman said that he had met with the governor’s representative, adding that he had appreciated the governor’s steps on the PU issue and the promotion of education.
However, the IJT has denied any involvement in the incident and termed it a conspiracy to divide the students and disrupt peaceful academic activities in the university.

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