IJT offices at PU closed down

LAHORE: Punjab University (PU) administration on Thursday closed down illegal offices of Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) at New Campus and removed the graffiti and the insignia of the group from different places at the campus.

Jamiat had set up its offices at the hostel of Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centre and room number 244 at hostel number one. The administration also removed the posters and insignia of other student groups from all hostels and underpasses.

Meanwhile, while chairing a meeting, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Zakria Zakar instructed the university officials to serve show-cause notices on the students involved in recent incidents of violence. He said the notices be served in prison and police station lockup through police officials.

PU Hostel administration has cancelled allotment of around 31 students involved in the incidents of violence. The luggage of the students has been shifted to storeroom. The VC also instructed the administration to take extraordinary measures to ensure fair and timely trial of students who were found involved in the incident of recent unrest on campus.

A PU official, seeking anonymity, said the IJT was able to open its office again after many years during the short tenure of interim VC Prof Dr Zafar Mueen Nasar. Dr Zafar had resigned from the post earlier this month allegedly after pressure from the government for not allocating a piece of university’s land to the Punjab government. But, some PU and government officials claim that Dr Zafar Mueen resigned fearing disciplinary action as there was a charge sheet ready against him. The former VC has denied any wrongdoing.