Student politics and Violence

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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KARACHI: Student shot dead in college

By Our Staff Reporter

KARACHI, April 20: A student of the Government College for Commerce and Economics was shot dead inside the college premises on Thursday morning.

The incident took place just a few yards from the Rangers Headquarters on Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road in the so-called ‘high security zone’.

Three policemen posted at the college failed to act during the entire episode.

“The three policemen have been arrested and a case under Police Order-2002 has been registered against them for showing negligence and dereliction in duty,” said the TPO Saddar, who visited the college following the incident.

According to witnesses, some 10/11 youth came to the college in a yellow cab and two motorcycles. They first hammered at the gate of the college and then climbed over it.

A group of students sitting inside rushed to safety and took shelter in a classroom after sensing danger. The intruders barged into the classroom and shot one of the students, later identified as Syed Akmal, 20. Another student, Javed Baig, sustained a bullet wound in his arm.

The assailants had closed the door of the classroom before opening fire at the students.

The attackers left the college without facing any resistance from the armed policemen posted at the college.

Police said that Akmal suffered a bullet wound in his chest and died before being taken to a hospital.

A senior police official said that registration number of the yellow cab involved was noted and initial investigation showed that the vehicle was on default and registered in the name of a woman with the address of Jehangir Road. However, when police reached at the address, they found no woman by this name lived there.

Later, the police tried to verify the particulars of the vehicle’s owner with Nadra’s data, but it turned out that it had no record to match the particulars.

The deceased, Syed Akmal Shirazi, was a student of BCom Part-I and residing in Metroville, Site. His family hailed from Mansehra. His Namaz-i-Janaza was offered at Masjid-i-Omar Bin Khattab.

With the beginning of this week, tension ran high between the All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organization (APMSO) and the Islami Jamiat-i-Talaba (IJT) which clashed at different colleges, mainly the Islamia Arts and Commerce College.

On April 18, police registered an FIR against unknown persons after a student, belonging to the IJT, sustained a bullet wound during a clash with APMSO activists behind the Islamia College.

The policemen, posted at the front gate of the college, heard the sound of gunshots and rushed to the scene. They found Khurram Shahzad with a bullet wound. However, the attackers had managed to flee.

A day earlier, five motorcycles were set on fire and the furniture and fixtures were ransacked when the two student groups clashed at the Islamia College. An FIR to this effect was lodged by the Principal of the college, Abdul Sattar Baloch, at the Jamshad Quarters police station against unknown persons.

On April 8 also, at least 15 students were injured when the two student groups clashed at the University of Karachi.

There were also reports of clashes, involving the same groups, at the Federal Urdu University and the NED university.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/04/21/local1.htm

Islami jamiat talaba(IJT) student wing of jamat e islami and All Pakistan mohajir student orgainsation(apmso) of MQM have clashed in the past because of the violence in colleges all over karachi students who dont belong to ant party suffer the most.Even the US state department report on pakistan mentioned the clashes in different colleges of karachi and even named these student organistations.

I think the only way is to ban student wings of the political organistions.

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KARACHI: 15 injured in student clashes at KU

KARACHI, April 8: At least 15 students were injured on Saturday during clashes between activists of the All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organization (APMSO) and the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT), and baton charge by the Rangers, at the University of Karachi.

There were also reports of clashes between activists of both the groups at the Federal Urdu University, Gulshan campus, and the NED University.

Doctors at the Jinnah Hospital said five injured students, mostly with head injuries, had been brought to there for treatment, and they were undergoing surgeries.

Clashes at the KU started at around 11.30am when one of the group, along with some outsiders attacked the activists of the other with iron rods, wooden sticks and stones, injuring several of them. Shots were also fired by some armed students but luckily no one was injured. Both the groups hurled stones at each other causing injuries to activists of both sides.

The Rangers deployed at the varsity intervened after a delay of at least 30 minutes and baton charged activists of both groups to disperse them and restore order.

General students and BDS candidates, who had reached the varsity to take their exams, faced difficulties as they were not allowed to enter or leave the varsity campus.

The University of Karachi claimed that the situation after the clash between the IJT and APMSO at the campus was brought under control due to efforts of the KU Students’ Adviser and other varsity teachers.

According to a KU spokesman, representatives of both the groups signed a peace agreement and assured that they would resolve their disputes through talks in future.

The KU spokesman later said that Dr Qadri took a round of the varsity along with representatives of both groups.

He said earlier, a meeting chaired by the Pro-Vice Chancellor and attended by senior KU teachers and representatives of both the said students groups called for ensuring peace and law and order on the campus.—PPI

Meanwhile, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal have accused each other’s student wing of disturbing peace at educational institutions, and urged the government to take action against those responsible for the violence, adds our staff reporter.

In its press statement, the MQM Coordination Committee condemned the attack on the students affiliated with the APMSO by “armed terrorists of the IJT,” backed by Jamaat-i-Islami.

It claimed that the innocent students were made target and the peaceful educational atmosphere was destroyed at the educational institution. It alleged that the armed students of the Jamiat had also attacked APMSO students at various educational institutions, including the Federal Urdu varsity, DJ Science College, two days back and injured many students.

It said that three students of the APMSO were injured in an attack on Saturday at the University of Karachi.

The committee demanded of the Sindh governor and the chief minister to take stern action against those responsible for violence.

In their statement, the MNAs Mohammad Hussain Mehanti, Abdus Sattar Afghani and Mohammad Laiq Khan of MMA condemned the “armed attack on unarmed IJT students by a state-backed student organization,” and claimed that the government had allowed the organization to spread terror at educational institutions of the city.

They alleged that state-backed student organization with the help of police and administration wanted to convert educational institutions into ‘no go areas’ for its opponents. It wanted to destroy peace in city, putting the future of students at stake.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/04/09/local1.htm

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Violence reported in colleges in This month

KARACHI: Students clash at Islamia college

By Our Staff Reporter

KARACHI, April 17: Five motorcycles were gutted and furniture and others fixtures were ransacked during a clash between two students groups at Islamia Arts and Commerce College on Monday.

Police said an FIR 121/06 was lodged by College Principal Abdul Sattar Baloch at Jamshed Quarters police station against unknown persons under sections 147, 148, 149, 435 and 427.

A duty officer of the police station said that the All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisatoin and the Islami Jamiat-i-Talba clashed, however, nobody was nominated nor anyone had been arrested so far.

Following the clash, police and Rangers from the nearby Dawood College of Engineering and Technology reached the spot to break off the clash. Police also resorted to tear gas shelling and baton charge to disperse students.

A car parked outside the college premises was also damaged as someone lobbed a brick into the wind screen.

Police said that they did not receive any report about students injured during the clash.

On April 8, at least 15 students were injured when the same student groups clashed with each other at the University of Karachi. There were also reports of clash between the two groups at Federal Urdu University and the NED university.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/04/18/local21.htm

The Random Thread
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KARACHI: IJT worker wounded in college clashes

By Our Staff Reporter

KARACHI, April 18: The police on Tuesday registered another FIR against unknown persons after a student belonging to the Islami Jamiat Talaba sustained a gunshot wound behind the Islamia Arts and Commerce College during a clash with activists of the All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation, police said.

Earlier on Monday, principal of the college Abdul Sattar Baloch lodged an FIR at the Jamshed Quarters police station against unknown persons following a clash between the two student groups during which five motorcycles were also set on fire and the college premises was ransacked.

In the meantime, the college administration announced a two-day closure of the college in an effort to avert further clashes between the APMSO and the IJT.

On Tuesday, the police said they were posted at the front gate of the college when they herd shots fired from the building’s backside.

Police rushed to the spot and found Khurram Shahzad wounded with gun fire. However, the suspects had managed to flee from the spot following the shooting, and no arrests were made.

The wounded student belonged to the IJT was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for treatment.

Police said Tuesday’s incident was in continuation of Monday’s clash between the APMSO and the IJT.

Following the incident, reinforcement of Rangers and the police were deployed at the college.

Meanwhile, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal have accused each others’ student wings of fanning violence and upsetting academic peace and the overall law and order situation in the city.

The MQM’s members in the Sindh Assembly in a statement said that ‘terrorists’ of the IJT had tortured APMSO workers and created a scene at the Islamia Arts and Commerce and the Islamia Science colleges, which was condemnable and was needed to be checked.

They demanded the Sindh governor and chief minister to take cognizance of the IJT’s workers and order stern action against the elements responsible for disturbing peace in educational institutions.

They said the Jamaat-i-Islami, which, according to them was after peace and tranquillity in the city, was also using the IJT, for violence in educational institutions.

They alleged that on Monday, the IJT activists subjected the APMSO workers to oppression at the Islamia Science College and caused damage to vehicles belonging to teachers and staff cars.

While on Tuesday, it attacked the Islamia Science and Islamia Arts and Commerce College and tortured the APMSO workers present there. On the other hand, the MPAs of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Nasrullah Shajji, Hameedullah Khan and Mohammad Younus Barai, have condemned the attacks on IJT workers.

They said the damage of vehicles and burning of libraries by the APMSO workers was nothing but part of a well thought out conspiracy after the Nishtar Park incident to destroy academic peace in the city.

They said that during the hooliganism and acts of violence on Monday and Tuesday at the said colleges, the police remained a silent spectator.

They said the armed attacks on IJT activists was tantamount to provoking the student community, which should not go unnoticed, and the authorities should take an effective line of action to maintain academic peace in the city.

The activists of the IJT also held a protest demonstration at the KPC against attacks on its activists at the Islamia Arts and Commerce College.

The participants questioned the role of the police and held that the authorities had failed to protect students and teachers.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/04/19/local3.htm

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Very good thread! Thanks.

Politics is ruining higher education in Pakistan. It is time to end the freebee and privatize every institution of higher learning.

Make students pay for the education via loans, scholarships, or work. Once this free-Khata ends, no beardo or Mohajir will get involved in the $tupidities.

Whatever money we gain should be spent in improving our grade 1-12 education. Some of our early grade schools are really suffering while these jamatis or APMSO jialas are sucking the nations blood.

The Random Thread
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Thanks antiobl

I think no one will give these students any work. Majority of the students who are given internship are not paid and work honorary and if they are paid they will get around 3000 to 6000.If all universities are privatised will they be able to pay a semester fees which is around or above 70000(iba)medical colleges fees per year is around 300000.

who will give these students any kind of loan???

Private institutes in karachi and pakistan have some standard and student politics in non existent in these institute.But I think less than 5% percent of the population can afford these institutes

P.S
Apmso workers are "sathis" .jialas are Workers of PPP

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Look tax payers are now payhing Rs. 50,000 or so (depending on university etc.) per student every year. Instead of giving it the university, this money should be transfered to the student's bank account as a loan. Once they graduate, they get to pay it back on easy installments.

Universities will get the same amount of funding. But the accountability of the students will increase, thus reducing the chances of them becoming jihadis, jialas, or haathi mera sathi.

Students are more than welcome to secure scholarships, or jobs and reduce the amount of loan to below Rs. 50K a year.

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The solution to student politics is not to ban it..it is to lift the ban and properly regulate it..a lot of these student groups are paper tigers that would be wiped out if an election were held..and if they were properly financed by universities with power they wouldnt seek power and funding from political parties.

The solution to a democratic deficit ..is to promote democracy not restrict it..

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In the 60s when my father was in college there used to be two main student organisations National student federation and democratic student federation these organisation have political ideologies but they were never militant

Zakk,I think there is a difference between student unions of the past and now the political wings of these parties.

And there is nothing like democracy in his party jamaat nazim will be directly appointed by The karachi office(idara e norr e haq) or directly from mansoorah same goes for apmso selected by nine zero.Apmso nazim faisal sabzwari is a member of provincial assembly.

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Student unions that are invovled in outsider's politics are simply "demo-crazy". They can do all that because they don't have to pay for their stay in the universities.

This "free lunch" keeps students away from studies. Once you stop this free lunch, the problem will go away.

In fact students should pay through their nose to make sure their eyes are fixe on books.

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Todays Update

KARACHI: APMSO, IJT trade allegations: Killing of student

By Our Staff Reporter

KARACHI, April 20: The All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation (APMSO) has suspected that the Thursday killing of a student at the Government College for Commerce and Economics may be an organised terrorist activity while the Islami Jamiat-i-Talaba (IJT) has accused its rival student organisation (APMSO) of being responsible for the fatal attack on its activist.

Speaking at the press conference at the Karachi Press Club, members of the APMSO ad-hoc committee Arshad Shah and Mohammad Abdi strongly condemned the incident and described it as ‘an act of terrorism’ carried out in an attempt to pitch the two student organisations against each other with the aim of disturbing educational atmosphere of the city.

They said that some elements were terming the incident ‘a clash between the two student groups’ but it was not true. They said that it was unfortunate that soon after the incident, IJT activists took over the Karachi University, as well as the National, Adamjee, Islamia and Premier colleges targeting members of the APMSO.

The ad-hoc committee members offered IJT and other student organisations talks on a new code of conduct. They called upon the Sindh governor and chief minister to order an inquiry into the killing of Akmal Shirazi leading to the arrest of his killer.

At a separate press conference that was also held at the KPC, IJT Nazim Syed Abdur Rasheed claimed that activists of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Kashif Mota and Rashid, along with others, entered the Government College of Commerce and Economics on Thursday and opened fire at some IJT members sitting in the college. As a result, he said, Syed Akmal suffered a bullet wound in his chest and Javed Beg sustained a bullet wound in his hand.

The IJT leader said that the terrorists escaped in the presence of the policemen posted at the college.

He said the IJT reserved the right to lodged an FIR and nominate the suspects involved in the attack. He said that it would also nominate the SHOs of Preedy and Artillery police stations for patronising the attackers.

He observed that almost every year, such incidents took place in the month of April and disturbed academic peace in the educational institutions of the city.

He expressed his surprise that this incident had taken place at a time when the director generals of ISI and MI were also present in the city.

He expressed the hope that an FIR would be lodged on the complaint of the IJT and not on behalf of the state. If the government tried to register an FIR against ‘unknown attackers’, the IJT would announce its future line of action, he added.

The IJT nazim announced a three-day mourning to be observed at all colleges and universities in the city, saying that students would wear black arm-bands and, after Juma prayers, stage a demonstration against the APMSO.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/04/21/local17.htm

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KARACHI: Muttahida dissolves student wing body

By Our Staff Reporter

KARACHI, April 20: The MQM coordination committee on Thursday dissolved the ad-hoc committee of the All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organization and constituted a three-member committee for reorganization of the APMSO.

An announcement to this effect was made by Mr Anwar Alam, in-charge of the coordination committee in Pakistan, while addressing a meeting of APMSO’s sector and unit in-charges and other workers at the Lal Qila ground, Azizabad.

The reorganisation committee comprises a member of the coordination committee, Wasim Aftab, Arshad Shah (MPA) and Abid Chowhan.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/04/21/local18.htm

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KARACHI: Killing jeopardises academic activity

By Our Staff Reporter

KARACHI, April 20: Killing of a student within the premises of the Government College of Commerce and Economics on Thursday has further deepened the concern among teachers and students in the city.

Principal of the college Prof Jalaluddin Chowhan said that in view of the situation, female students had already been asked not to turn up on Friday. A decision about the attendance of male students would be taken after reviewing the situation on Friday morning, he added.

The college, located within the ‘high security zone’ opposite the PIDC building, has different sections for male and female students. Teaching for male students is also conducted in the afternoon shift. Female students of the intermediate classes, who were taking their preliminary tests, rushed out screaming when the armed men scaled the walls and main gate of the college on Thursday before, shooting a student, Akmal Shirazi, dead.

“It is difficult to manage students, particularly female, amidst such a situation. However, when the strength of law-enforcement agency personnel at the college was enhanced, we evacuated the students,” Prof Chowhan said.

In reply to a question, he said that despite the fact that there prevailed unrest at a few colleges over the past few days, the atmosphere at this college remained peaceful and conducive to academic activities before the Thursday incident.

“I was engaged with a team of BIE in my room at the time of the incident, but as per the information provided by my staff, I can say that no clash prior to the armed attack had taken place at the college. The attackers were also outsiders,” said Mr Chowhan.

He said that the high-ups, including the EDO Colleges, Dr Rafiq A Siddiqui, had been informed that teachers, staff and students were scared in the wake of the incident and they were feeling insecure. As such, security at the college should be beefed up.

The college is among the five-seven ‘sensitive colleges’ on the list of those requiring a full-fledged deployment of LEA personnel.

Academic circle fear that if proper security and reconciliatory measures are not taken promptly, academic peace at educational institutions may face a serious threat in the coming days.

Meanwhile, in an immediate reaction to the fatal attack, activists of a student group which claims that the deceased belonged to it, observed protest at several educational institutions, including the University of Karachi.

Supporter of a group held demonstration on the campus at 12.15pm and disturbed teaching at some classes.

Departure of the university’s point bus service was also delayed, said a source on the campus. It was learnt that after the show by a particular group, classes in the morning and evening could not be held viably.

In order to prevent further unrest, the university on Thursday announced special measures to be taken on Friday. Security would be beefed up and activists of the groups creating a law and order situation would be dealt with accordingly, said an official of the university.

Protesters disturbed teaching at the two campuses of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences and Technology on Thursday. After 12:30pm, no classes could be held at the Gulshan-i-Iqbal and Abdul Haq campuses, said an official of the university, adding that academic activities on the campuses would be held as usual on Friday.

A bus-load of protesting students arrived at the Adamjee Science College in New Town area, a senior teacher said, adding that they came at around 12:30 but the classes were over by that time as a routine.

However, the students disrupted traffic around the college. Keeping in view the situation and inadequate deployment of police and Rangers, teachers of the college have expressed their inability to take classes on Friday and Saturday.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/04/21/local19.htm

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This is utterly sad.

Time to end the "free lunch" and "free education". That's the only way we can get rid of these leeches of Jamatis, jiyalas, and haathi Mohajir key sathi.

Give full funding to the desrving students. Rest of them should pay or leave. This will greatly improve the stiutation on every government funded university.

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A medical student fees per year is around 300000 and for five years it will be 15 lakhs.do you think any financial institution will give loan to atleast 5000 plus medical students of karachi alone???

After MBBS a doctor gets a salary between 6000 to 10000.even after post graduation(FCPS) a medical doctor is paid around 15 to 20 thousand.

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As I said, deserving students (who lack financial backing AND maintain good grades) should be given full funding.

What's so difficult to understand about this?

Don't just quote lakhs or corers. Instead take the total budget of any government run college and divide it by the number of students. That's the cost per student (plus minus some percentage). Let's assume it is 1 lakh per student.

Right now tax payers fund 1 lakh per student as soon as he / she secures admission. This level funding continues for many years, regardless of that student's academic performance.

I say give the same 1 lakh to the student. It is scholarship for good students who can't afford to pay. It is a loan to the rest.

If a good student becomes Jamati, jiayala, or haathi mera sathi, no more scholarship. Case closed.

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Update
KARACHI: IJT plans protest in Islamabad

By Our Staff Reporter

KARACHI, April 21: The Islami Jamiat Talaba on Friday gave a call for a sit-in in front of the President House in Islamabad on April 27, if the federal government does not remove the Sindh governor and arrest the suspects involved in the Nishtar Park bombing and killers of Farhan Asif and Syed Akmal.

Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, Nasarullah Khan Goraya, Nazim IJT Pakistan, said that they would publish a white paper exposing the activist of the MQM and demanded of the federal government to impose a ban on the party.

Referring to the incident of the Government College for Commerce of Economics, in which one of their member was killed; Mr Goraya said that so far five students had lost their lives to terrorism in different educational institutions of the city.

He alleged that SHO Preedy and SHO Artillery Maidan were directly patronizing terrorist activities of the APMSO.

Mr Goraya pointed out that the suspension of the APMSO activists, who were nominated in the murder case of Akmal showed that they were trying to cover up the case. However, he feared for the lives of the three nominated suspects and demanded they should be immediately arrested by the police.

Meanwhile, IJT activists held protest demonstrations outside major mosques of the city after Jumma prayers against the killing of its worker Akmal, who was killed on April 20 at the Govt. Commerce and Economics College Karachi, adds PPI.

A black day was observed at educational institutes all over the city including University of Karachi, Federal Urdu University, engineering, medical, intermediate and degree colleges and the IJT activists attended classes by wearing black armbands.

The IJT has nominated three activists of the All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation (APMSO) in an FIR, who were expelled from the APMSO immediately after allegations were levelled against them by the IJT.

The biggest protest demonstration was held outside the Baitul Mukaram mosque in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, which was addressed by Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) leader Allama Hasan Turabi, MPA Younus Barai and IJT Nazim-i-Aala Nasarullah Khan Goraya.

A large number of MMA, Jamat-i-Islami (JI) and IJT workers attended the protest demonstrations and chanted slogans against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain, Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad and Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui.

They were also carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans and demands for the removal of Sindh governor and home minister and arrest of the alleged killers belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

Allama Hasan Turabi accused the provincial government of resorting to state terrorism but said it was not the first or last sacrifice and many more youngsters were ready for sacrificing their lives in struggle for the implementation of Islam in Pakistan and demanded immediate removal of the Sindh government.

IJT Nazim-i-Ala Nasarullah Khan Goraya said killers of IJT worker Akmal were enemies of the Karachiites and wanted to terrorise people raising voice against their terrorism but the IJT would continue its struggle for liberating educational institutes from the grip of terrorists.

He charged that the Sindh governor and home minister were directly supervising terrorist activities and sheltering notorious criminals and alleged that cancellation of memberships of the nominated killers by the APMSO was an evidence of their involvement in terrorist activities.

Protest demonstrations were also held outside the Memon mosque on M.A. Jinnah Road, Quba mosque F.B Area, outsides various other mosques in North Nazimabad, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Malir, PECHS, Saddar, and several others areas of the city.

Several MMA and JI leaders including MNA Mohammad Hussain Mehnti, MPA Nasarullah Shajee, JI Karachi Amir Dr Merajul Huda Siddiqui, zonal leaders of JI and IJT office-bearers addressed demonstrations and demanded the arrest of the killers of the IJT worker Akmal.

Quran Khawani was also arranged at a number of educational institutes including KU, FUUAST, DUHS and some intermediate college while at some institutions, teachers boycotted classes in protest against the murder of a student.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/04/22/local8.htm

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KARACHI: Teachers to observe strike on 24th: Violence in colleges

By Our Staff Reporter

KARACHI, April 21: Teachers of the government city colleges on Friday expressed dissatisfaction over the law and order situation in colleges and demanded action against external elements, who were allegedly involved in killing and arson incidents within and outside educational premises.

They have also decided to observe a strike on April 24 in Karachi colleges to press their demands.

Following the killing of one of their colleagues on Thursday, the students at Government College of Commerce and Economics did not turn up to continue academic activities on Friday. It is likely that the situation would return to normality after the Soyem of the deceased Syed Akmal Sherazi, who was shot dead in the college premises by outsiders.

Talking to Dawn on Friday the principal of the college, Prof Jalaluddin Chowhan, said that woman students were told on Thursday, after the murder of a student, Akmal, not to come to the college to attend the classes, while teaching in the case of male students could not be conducted as they stayed away.

Officially there is no closure of college on Saturday and it is expected that both women and male students would report to their classes and preliminary exams, if any, as usual, he added.

Teaching at the Government Adamjee Science College and Government Islamia Arts and Commerce College also could not resume on Friday. Keeping in view the lawlessness in educational institutions and some problems near the college after killing of Akmal, teachers of Adamjee College had announced not to take classes on Friday and Saturday.

Islamia Arts and Commerce College, according to sources, has been failing to attain an academic atmosphere after a clash between two groups of students, which took place on April 17. The hooligans also set on fire different vehicles belonging to teachers and other non-academic staff the same day.

Later on April 18, an activist of a students’ organisation sustained a gunshot wound in a clash with opponent group’s activists near Islamia Arts College, which further aggravated the situation and the college administration had to announce a two-day closure of the college, hoping that the situation would ultimately defuse.

In the meantime, the Sindh Professors and Lecturers’ Association (SPLA), which on April 18 had expressed concern over the incidence of violence, ransacking and clash at Islamia Arts College, and had given 48-hour ultimatum to the government for the arrest of the quarters involved in unruly activities, reviewed the situation afresh on Friday.

A meeting of teachers from different colleges was held with Prof Riaz Ahsan in the chair at Islamia Arts and Commerce College on Friday. The participants condemned the recent incident of murder of a student at Commerce College as well.

The meeting observed that external elements were involved in the ransacking of Islamia College, burning of cars and motorcycles belonging to principals, three teachers and two non-teaching staffs.

In order to get the colleges free of outsiders and politically motivated elements, teachers would make practical efforts, the meeting decided and announced to observe complete strike in colleges on April 24 by suspending all teaching and non-teaching affairs and holding protest meetings.

It was further resolved that the SPLA would hold its provincial executive body meeting at Hyderabad on April 25, wherein a strategy would also be finalized to get rid of outsiders in the colleges.

The meeting demanded of the Sindh governor, chief minister, and Corps Commander Karachi to take notice of the violence activities carried out at the Govt. Commerce College and Islamia Arts and Commerce College and order for the arrest of culprits and external elements involved in the unwanted developments and severe punishment to them.

The teachers also demanded for payment of compensation amount on emergent basis to teachers and non-teaching staff, whose vehicles were set ablaze at the Islamia Arts and Commerce College on April 18.

The SPLA also criticised the teachers who were affiliated with political parties as well. This has been brought in the knowledge of the SPLA that some of then college teachers, despite being government employees, were also serving the causes of political parties and allegedly were playing instrumental in carrying out politically motivated activities at different colleges, said SPLA leaders, demanding for a check against it.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/04/22/local7.htm

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KARACHI: Student’s killing: case registered

KARACHI, April 21: The Artillery Maidan police on Friday registered a case against three activists of the All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organization (APMSO) for killing a student Akmal and injuring Javed Beg belonging to the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) at the Government Commerce and Economic College Karachi on April 20.

According to the FIR 97/2006, lodged with the Artillery Maidan police on the complaint of Tariq Nisar, an IJT activist, three APMSO activists Kashif, Hasan Adnan alias Tufail and Rashid Baig came to the Govt. Commerce College and started firing.

Resultantly, two IJT workers Akmal, a BCom part-I student and Javed Beg sustained injuries and within a few minutes, Akmal passed away while he was being shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

No arrests has been made so far on the complaint of the IJT, while, TPO Saddar has already suspended three police personnel on duty outside the college in question.

The Rabita Committee of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement late on Thursday night cancelled the memberships of all three APMSO workers, nominated by the IJT in the murder case.—PPI

http://www.dawn.com/2006/04/22/local10.htm

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Sad to hear so called 'educated' people killing each others.

ALL politics in student campuses and ALL student wings of political parties must be banned as in several decades we have not seen anything good coming out of these activities.

It hurts academics and disturbs those who want to learn and be useful members of the society.

Combination of youth hot blood and politics is not a good thing.
What we see is that hostels become sources of Goondaism and blocks are made among students threatening each others.

Exams become joke and teachers are disrepected. Innocent students are forced to stay home and frustration builds up among 'good' students.

I am sure its NOT democracy.......its exploitation of emotions of young generation filling them with hatred.

Don't we want to see books instead of guns etc. in the hands of our generation?