Lahore: MPhil (2012-20) student, Husnain Jamil Faridi of Pakistan Study Centre, was banned to enter the university for arranging a rally against the buses shortage in the campus on March 20 for an undetermined period.
A warning letter delivered by Registrar Dr Khalid Khan states that Mr Faridi, a student of Punjab University, breached the University of the Punjab Act 1973 rules and regulations dealing with discipline, welfare and code of honor of the university. Along with this, the disciplinary committee also rusticated four students for a semester, five others were punished with fine of Rs10,000 each and four were alerted for participating in the rally.
The notification regarding Mr Faridi states: “The Discipline Committee in view of the concrete evidence available before it and on account of your involvement in violent activities adversely affecting the sanctity of the University unanimously concluded that you have been found guilty. Hence you breached the undertaking submitted by the students at the time of admission, violated rules and regulations relating to the discipline and code of honor of the students of the university and affiliated colleges.”
It further goes with: “Now penalty of Persona Non Grata is awarded to you. Furthermore, your entry has been banned on the whole University Campus/Campuses and if in case, any individual is found to have accommodated you he/she shall be liable to disciplinary action under the relevant rules. The student may prefer an appeal before the vice chancellor against the decision within 15 days of the issuance of the notification.”
Mr Faridi told that the university administration had once called him to appear in a hearing of the inquiry being held against him, but when he reached the university he was told that the inquiry had been cancelled due to non-availability of members. He said the administration had announced its decision without hearing him. “I have been being punished for holding a rally on campus to demand transport,” he claimed.
He further stated that he and his fellows were holding a peaceful rally on campus and demanding solution to the transport problem when another group of students attacked them. “The university administration took action against us, but not against those who attacked the peaceful rally,” he claimed.
The registrar told that all the students penalized appeared before the inquiry committee and they had recorded their statements at length. He claimed that they were also given time to appeal against the decision before the vice chancellor.
The Punjab University suspended eight students of the Punjabi Council for allegedly torturing an activist of Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) on Tuesday night.
Police also registered a case against seven nominated and 15 unidentified students of the council under sections 324, 506-B, 148 and 149 of the PPC on the complaint of the injured IJT activist, Mustansar Ali.
The Punjabi Council was holding a rally to welcome newcomers outside hostel no 15 where they have a conflict with IJT outside hostel no 8. Both student groups clashed and this fight turned to aerial firing during which seven students were injured from both sides and the injured were shifted to nearby hospital where one of them was said to be critical.
One of those booked, Punjabi Council head Khurrum Gondal stated that they were attacked by the IJT. Police also registered a case against them and took their four members under custody . He alleged that their application for registration of a case against the attackers was not being honored.
IJT central information secertary Rana Usman alleged that four of their activists were sitting in the canteen when Punjabi Council activists attacked them with iron rods. He explained that their fellow activists retaliated in self defence.
