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Students shout loud

* 800 LUMS students and teachers protest on campus
* FAST students beaten up by police
* BNU students observe Black Day today

By Ali Waqar

LAHORE: Students and faculty members of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and FAST-National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences demonstrated on their campuses against the imposition of emergency in Pakistan. The demonstrations were peaceful and were monitored by the college administrations and the police.

The police cordoned off the two universities and did not allow the protesters to step out. Police also beat a few students at FAST.

Beaconhouse National University (BNU) students are scheduled to observe today (Thursday) Black Day against the emergency.

LUMS protest: About 800 LUMS students and faculty members gathered at the Sports Complex and spoke against the emergency. The students then marched around the campus shouting slogans against the government regime and General Pervez Musharraf, the imposition of emergency and the promulgation of anti-media ordinances.

They also displayed placards and banners reading “LUMS Against Martial Law”, “Go Musharraf Go” and “No to Martial Law”.

The protesters wanted to take the rally off campus, but university teachers and vice chancellor Dr Zahoorul Hassan stopped them. The police had cordoned off the university early morning and had warned that any protester who stepped out would be beaten up.

LUMS authorities had also banned the entry of unidentified people, including reporters, on campus. The police beat a few reporters who insisted on wanting to go in. Students sat on the ground inside the main gate with their mouths taped. Some students alleged that undercover policemen were keeping an eye on the protestors. The LUMS security team was also present.

LUMS students had also protested on Monday after their teachers were arrested from a meeting to discuss the emergency held at the office of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

FAST-NUCES: A large number of FAST students protested on campus against the emergency. They shouted anti-government and anti-Musharraf slogans. They also denounced the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) and ordinances that clamped down on the media.

The police cordoned off the university early morning. Senior police officers entered the university and urged the administration to hand over the protesting students. The police also kept the university’s main gate closed. After the protest, police seniors met the FAST administration and urged them to give an undertaking that the university would not allow its students to hold more protests.

IJT protest at public colleges: The Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) also protested at public colleges against the emergency. They shouted slogans against the emergency and hoisted black flags on the college buildings as a sign of mourning.

Students of the Punjab University; Government Science College, Wahdat Road; and Islamia College, Civil Lines, took to the roads and briefly protested. They demanded Gen Musharraf step down and take off his uniform.

Also contributed by Qasim Nauman and Maria Hasan

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