PU VC ‘grieved’ over Iqbal’s birth

LAHORE: The Punjab University vice chancellor solemnly marked the “death anniversary” of Allama Muhammad Iqbal yesterday, said a PU press release that came as a surprise to those celebrating what was actually his 127th birth anniversary. “A delegation of teachers and students led by PU Vice Chancellor Lt Gen Arshad Mahmood laid a floral wreath at Mizar-I-Iqbal and offered Fateha to pay homage to the great poet on his death anniversary,” said the press release from the PU Public Relations Department on Tuesday. The press release then went on at length to talk about the many tributes paid by the vice chancellor to the poet on his “death anniversary”. The vice chancellor heads what is considered Pakistan’s foremost institution of learning, and one which offers a masters degree in Iqbaliat, the study of Iqbal’s work and life. “This shows the specific staff’s interest in the institution,” said one teacher. “It is just the latest example of the sort of routine praise showered on the administration for ulterior motives. Public relations here has come to mean praising the vice chancellor, not about anything else happening at the university.” A Mass Communication Department teacher, commenting on the factual mistake, laughingly said it was an example of the lack of professionalism and irresponsibility of staff. He said the mistake would have been pardonable if at came from elsewhere, “but considering the person and institution, it is not”. Mr Mahmood and the PU public relations officer, Rashid Khan Barkzai, refused to comment. staff report

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