PU closed for four days: Book fair controversy
By Zulqernain Tahir
LAHORE, May 11: The Punjab University has found no other solution to deal with a students body’s proposed book fair but to ‘waste a full academic week’ of its students by closing the campus from May 12 to 15.
The varsity will open on Friday (May 16) which is a half-day, followed by Saturday and Sunday weekly off.
A varsity spokesman confirmed that the campus would remain closed for four days ‘in connection with the Islami Jamiat Tulba’s proposed three-day book fair’ starting from May 13.
Cowed down to the ‘fear’ of the students’ wing, the varsity administration had gone to the extent of ‘pleading’ the parents not to send their children to the university during the four days to ‘save them from any possible harm’. And the varsity will reportedly compensate the loss of ‘precious’ academic period of the students by adjusting their schedule on the direction of the ‘teacher vice-chancellor’ when the campus will open.
The varsity has also postponed its selection board meeting scheduled to be held this week.
Considering the decision its victory, the Islami Jamiat Tulba has further mounted its pressure on the varsity administration saying that all preparations regarding the book fair have been completed and the ‘students not its activists’ are eager to take part in it.
In a statement on Sunday, the IJT condemned what it called a ‘cowardly act’ of the so-called pro-students administration and held it responsible for the steps aiming at destroying the otherwise peaceful atmosphere on the campus. “Inviting police to the campus is tantamount to creating fear among the students, and it will be difficult for them to continue their studies under the ‘shades of guns’.” The students’ wing also pointed a finger at the governor, who is also the chancellor of public universities, for his role in the decision to close the campus. The governor had also ‘sabotaged’ the previous book fair, it alleged.
The IJT will announce its future course of action on Monday (today).
On Sunday, the New Campus main corridor and underpasses between the new campus and the hostels were blocked by parking buses reportedly in a bid to prevent the entry of IJT activists for making any arrangement regarding the fair.
A senior teacher is of the view that the new PU administration seems to be following in the footsteps of the previous one which on the directive of President Musharraf had tried to ‘depoliticise’ the campuses.
Musharraf had banned all activities of student wings of political parties in educational institutions. “Now Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has ordered lifting of the ban on student unions, and in the wake of emerging situation the varsity must devise a workable strategy to deal with such issues,” he said, adding that it shows incompetence on the part of the administration.
Another teacher says on the one hand, the administration has turned a blind eye to the IJT’s ‘political activities’ on the campus, but on the other hand making a big issue of its (IJT) activity which ‘apparently’ has nothing to do with politics.
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