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IJT activists beat up Punjab University students

* Girl harassed for ‘un-Islamic’ dress
* IJT denies allegations

By Ali Waqar

LAHORE: Activists of the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) on Tuesday harassed Punjab University English Department students accusing them of “immoral activity” and “improper” dressing.

The activists dragged a student of the department out of the premises, beat him up in front of the canteen and threw him in a nearby drain. Witnesses of the incident, including a few teachers of the department, suspect that the IJT-appointed nazim of Hostel 17 was among the assailants. The IJT activists also called up female students of the department on their cell phones, telling them to “learn a lesson” from the incident. A teacher who saw the episode immediately told the administration about the beating.

Later, a couple of men on a motorcycle, who said they were IJT activists, dragged a female student along the Canal Road before throwing her on to the green belt along the road. She was on her way to her hostel. They called her up on her cell phone again telling her to change her “anti-Islamic views”.

Students of the department told Daily Times that several girls had been receiving threats from the IJT for a long time regarding their “un-Islamic” attire. The girls usually wore sleeveless shalwar kameez with dupattas.

They said they did not know how the IJT had got their cell phone numbers. They told Daily Times that a couple of days ago the IJT had also beaten up a boy and girl of the PU’s Hailey College of Commerce for hanging out together.

PU students have expressed concern over the forced Islamisation of the varsity. They said they have also appealed to President Pervez Musharraf, Governor Khalid Maqbool and Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi to intervene in the “rapidly deteriorating conditions” at the PU.

The IJT has a strong hold on the PU hostels and is believed to be influential in the administration. The organisation has already forced five prayer breaks at the hostel canteens, cafeterias and other shops at the hostels. This is a step ahead from the two-hour Friday prayer break that has been there for the past many years.

PU Registrar Dr Muhammad Naeem Khan told daily Times that the Tuesday’s incident was in the administration’s knowledge and a fact-finding committee had been formed immediately. He said the committee was directed to submit a report within two days. He said, “Such incidents will not be tolerated.” Khan said these people appeared to be following the example of Jamia Hafsa students. He said they were frustrated people and wanted power over others.

The IJT PU chapter refused to comment on the issue. However, IJT central spokesman Hamidur Rehman said the IJT had not attacked any PU student. He said the Jamiat had only stopped a couple of students of the Psychology Department from “obscene actions” in public on Tuesday.

He said reports of attacks being blamed on the IJT were false and part of propaganda to smudge its reputation.

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