The Punjab government has entered into an agreement with Islami Jamiat Tulaba, allowing the latter to hold its much publicised three-day All Pakistan General Convention on the Punjab University ground from Oct 15. The agreement has been signed by Iqbal Town SP Muntazir Mehdi, IJT Punjab Nazim Rasal Khan and Congregation Nazim Zubair Safdar on the instructions of the Punjab government.
The Punjab University administration, however, is blank on this issue. PU Resident Officer Javed Sami said the university had not allowed the IJT to hold its congregation and added that he did not know about any meeting of the university administration with the Punjab government. He said vice-chancellor`s policy in this regard was clear that he never allowed any student organisation to hold such activities on the university campus.
In order to avoid any untoward incident, it is learnt the PU administration has decided to close university on congregation`s concluding day on Monday (Oct 17) and open the university on next Saturday (Oct 22) in lieu of. The university will be closed on the first two days of the congregation on Saturday and Sunday (Oct 15-16).
Sources in the Punjab government told Dawn that PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran and four Syndicate members had held a meeting with Punjab government officials at Chief Minister`s Secretariat at 7-Club Road on this subject. RO-I Mr Sami, however, said no such meeting was in his knowledge.
The IJT-police agreement reflects Punjab University`s demands — no firearm brandishing will be allowed at the congregation, no speech or threatening tone will be adopted against the varsity administration, university ground will be restored to its previous condition after the congregation, speakers and amplifiers will be used inside the congregation venue, no congregation participant will be allowed to enter the academic blocks and hostel areas, police will search all visitors, nobody will hold rallies and block roads around the university and congregation venue, no college or university transport will be used and criminals and expelled students` entry to the congregation venue will be banned. The agreement said congregation organisers would not use university`s facilities like water, gas and electricity. It said proclaimed offenders and those involved in any case would be allowed to enter the venue when they would produce their bail orders.
The agreement states the IJT will observe these government instructions and never use this event as a precedent for any such activity in future. In case of violation of these terms and conditions on part of the IJT, Iqbal Town SP Muntazir Mehdi said he would report to the higher authorities.
Following this agreement, the IJT leadership is content with its arrangements for the congregation, but the PU administration is still saying it has not allowed the Jamiat to hold its event.
The PU security wing has recruited three dozen `bouncers` to control IJT activists. These guards were seen marching on the university premises.