Tag: IJT

  • Hindu students attacked for celebrating Holi at Punjab University

    Hindu students at Punjab University were attacked by Islami Jamiat Tulba (IJT) on Tuesday for celebrating their religious festival Holi with the permission of the administration at Punjab University’s new campus.

    As a result, at least 15 students of the Hindu community were injured. Videos of the incident uploaded on social media show a group of IJT members thrashing the minority community members.

    Other videos showed the security guards carrying batons and beating the students while they were running from the scene.

    Sindh Council Secretary General Kashif Brohi said that 15 students from both the Hindu community and Sindh Council suffered injuries and moved away without celebrating the event, reports Dawn.

    He said the IJT activists started hurling threats after students had posted invitations [Holi celebration] on their Facebook page.

    On the contrary, IJT spokesperson Ibrahim Shahid told Dawn that they did not stop the Hindu community members from celebrating Holi. He said the attackers might have used their name but the IJT would ensure equality for minority community members to hold their religious events.

    He claimed they were holding Dars-i-Quran on the campus and were not present there.

    However, in the past, IJT was responsible for many attacks on students.

    Activist Ammar Ali Jan, condemning the attack, said: “It reflects a deep sense of paranoia that stems from our need to expel impurities” from our own past.

    He added that this sickness will continue unless we accept and celebrate the many histories and cultures that shape our country.”

  • University of Peshawar to remain closed on Valentine’s Day

    University of Peshawar to remain closed on Valentine’s Day

    The University of Peshawar has announced an official ‘off day’ on Valentine’s day for seminars and workshops, reports The News.

    The management has released a notification that states, “It is notified for the information of all concerned that the University of Peshawar will observe a closed holiday on Monday, February 14 in lieu of February 5, Kashmir Day, for keeping the university open for arranging talks/discussions, seminars and workshops. Schedule of examination, tests and interviews, if already announced, will remain unchanged.”

    In 2018, the administration took similar steps to prevent students from celebrating the day. They arranged a seminar, “Faculty Development Workshop on Quality Assurance” and also cancelled the classes because of it.

    In the past, violent clashes had been reported between groups on February 14 over the celebration of Valentine’s Day.

    In 2014, activists of the Pakhtun Students Federation (PSF) and Islami Jamiat Tulba (IJT) turned the campus into a battlefield when they opened fire on supporters of the day which resulted in several injuries of students.

    Many conservative groups in Pakistan mark February 14 as “Haya Day” and often arrange walks to prevent western influence on young minds.

  • Islami Jamiat Talba supporters break in, vandalise VC, Registrar offices at Punjab University

    The offices of Vice-Chancellor, registrar and public relations at Punjab University were ransacked by hundreds of students belonging to Islami Jamiat Talba (IJT) on Friday after a confrontation between two student groups, reports Dawn News.

    The spokesperson for Punjab University, Khurram Shahzad, confirmed the incident in a statement that supporters of IJT broke into the premises of offices “following a fight between some students and outsiders” near the main cafeteria.

    The complaint has been filed against students for legal action over the violent incident.

    Shahzad said, “The university has taken measures to establish peace on the campus and only a few dozen students on all sides are trying to disturb the peaceful environment of the university. The administration is identifying these students with the help of footage and strict action will be taken against them as per the law.”

    The Punjabi Council spokesperson, Khurram Gondal, claimed that the IJT activists got engaged in a clash with them on Friday after a disagreement arose over the posters of two events that needed to be displayed at the hostels that they were organising separately.

    The dispute started three days ago when the Punjabi Council were organising a cultural programme and put their posters on display at the hostels, which later members of IJT replaced with their event poster.

    According to Gondal, IJT activists tore and burned their posters and later the conflict escalated to a violent clash between student groups near the main cafeteria.

    IJT members arranged the protest outside the Admin Block, demanding the arrest of those who were involved in the attack on them. They forcefully entered the premises of offices where they destroyed the doors and windows.

    On the other hand, IJT spokesperson, Adeel Chaudhry said that they were protesting to demand action against the outsiders who were residing in the university’s hostels.

    He demanded, “These outsiders should be arrested because they were creating a law-and-order situation at the campus.”

    The police brought the situation under control when they reached the University and dispersed protesters.