Possible protest by students over site

PESHAWAR: After the refusal by the campus police to use force against students to quell a possible protest, the University of Peshawar (UoP) postponed the groundbreaking of the country’s first ever full-fledged Institute for Criminology and Forensic Centre in the university.

On the other hand, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has approved the parliamentary committee’s report into the use of force against students by police on the directives of the university administration in October, last year and asked the university administration to implement the recommendations made by the committee.

However, Registrar University of Peshawar Dr Zahid Gul said: “I have not yet received any such report. It would be implemented through my office once it is received.”

The inauguration of the establishment of the Institute of Criminology and Forensic Sciences was scheduled to be held today. But due to the fear of students’ protest the event was put off. The institute is planned to be set up at the Pearl Lawn near the Madina Market in the university.

The students have reservations over the site, which they say is the only open space in the university near an academic block and Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies. The site comprises of a basketball court, a few lawns and an old canteen.

Awal Sher Khan, a student leader, told The News that they have already conveyed the university administration their concerns about the site for the institute. “We are not against the establishment of new departments and institutes in the university but an appropriate site should be selected for the new project,” he said.

He was of the opinion that the university was already short of open space. Instead of erecting new buildings, the already available buildings in the university, most of which are lying vacant, should be renovated and better utilized, he argued.

Dr Zahid Gul said that they had already planned inauguration of the centre and for the purpose, he wrote letters to the director administration and campus police for necessary arrangements and security purposes. But when police pointed out that some untoward incident may happen, they held a meeting and postponed the inauguration, he said.

He said that it was purely an academic activity. They have to set up the institute and this was the lone open space available to the varsity, he added.

In response to the university’s letter, the campus police stated that there was a proper way of dealing with such issues rather than using police force against the general public, especially students who are always on their toes to trigger protest.

Second, the deployment of police in such cases required legal justification, which was not obtained or provided to campus police and deployment at such spots where a civil dispute related to the general public could lead to any untoward situation.

“It is, therefore, requested that keeping in view the sensitivity of the issue, consult the students and listen to their concerns, and if possible, address them in a better way which will help a lot in the matter,” the letter recommended.

According to sources, police refused even deployment at the site of the new project due to their previous experience when they used force against students in October last year on the directives of the university administration. But when the matter was highlighted in the media and the government took action, all the responsibility was shifted to police, the sources said.

About the institute of criminology, its project director Dr Basharat Hussain informed that the provincial government had earmarked an amount of Rs180 million for establishment of the institute. He said once established it would be the first ever full-fledged Institute of Criminology and Forensic Sciences where teaching, research and trainings would be offered.

He said primarily there were two main components of the project – construction of building and starting academic programmes. The second component they have already started with the master’s degree in criminology, Dr Basharat, who is also chairman of the Department of Criminology of the university, pointed out.

“We launched admissions in the masters of criminology in 2016 and in 2018 we got our third batch enrolled,” he informed this correspondent.

He said that after the construction of own building, they would start BS, master’s, MPhil and PhD programmes besides offering one-year diploma or certificate courses for the law-enforcement agencies.

As far as the parliamentary committee report is concerned, the chief minister has asked the university administration to fully implement it. The report has held the university administration and campus police responsible for the situation and recommended proper inquiry against provost and the then commandant campus police.

The committee had also recommended replacement of the university provost with a BS 20 officer forthwith. Abolishment of the post of the chief security officer of the university had also been suggested by the committee.

The body has also suggested filling out of all the administrative positions in the university under the principle of the right person for the right job.