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LAHORE,
March 23: Scores of Punjab University (PU) students not included in
recipients of laptops staged a demonstration on Friday at the Punjab
government’s laptops distribution ceremony at the PU.
When Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif began his speech, scores of protesters chanted slogans demanding laptops. They were carrying placards bearing inscriptions “Injustice … Listen to our pleas”. Initially, PU teachers tried to cool them down but when their pleas did not work, they abused and threatened them with expulsion. A female student said a teacher tried to snatch her cell phone wherein she had shot clips of teachers manhandling the protesters, especially the girls. Islamic Studies Department students said that they were regular morning students and had filled undertaking forms but still they were not given the gadgets. Punjab Education Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman and MPA Mohsin Latif tried to console the protesters but failed. Later, three students – Iqra, Bushra and Imran – were called on the sidelines of the stage and MNA Khawaja Saad Rafique and Higher Education Secretary Dr Ijaz Munir also negotiated with them. Students said that they were being victimised for no reason. As Mr Rafique tried to put off the matter saying that they would be given laptops, students demanded assurance in black and white. At this, Mr Rehman got infuriated and abused them. However, Mr Rafique asked the minister to be decent with students. Later, Mr Rafique called faculty of Islamic Studies Dean Prof Dr Hafiz Mahmood Akhtar and asked him to explain students’ position. Prof Akhtar said that those students, who had left the university after Dec 31, 2011, were not eligible for laptops. Imran, a law college student, said since the scheme was meant for first division holders, no law student could get the first division and the government should give laptops to all law students scoring second divisions. The education minister turned down his plea. The students returned to their protesting class fellows and continued protest till the end of the ceremony. Islamic Studies Department students held a sit-down at the university administration block till 4pm. They negotiated with the faculty of Islamic Studies dean Prof Dr Hafiz Mahmood Akhtar. Students told reporters Prof Akhtar had even denied to accept them as Islamic Studies department students. They said that they would also stage a protest demonstration in front of chief minister’s house on Saturday (today). Special students: Punjab University special students staged a protest demonstration at the main entrance to the laptop distribution venue and demanded that they should also be given laptops. Six blind students of the Pakistan Study Centre, Law College, political science and special education departments kept on standing at the Law College main entrance for almost four hours while holding placards demanding laptops. They urged Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to give laptops to 14 special students studying at the Punjab University.
When Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif began his speech, scores of protesters chanted slogans demanding laptops. They were carrying placards bearing inscriptions “Injustice … Listen to our pleas”. Initially, PU teachers tried to cool them down but when their pleas did not work, they abused and threatened them with expulsion. A female student said a teacher tried to snatch her cell phone wherein she had shot clips of teachers manhandling the protesters, especially the girls. Islamic Studies Department students said that they were regular morning students and had filled undertaking forms but still they were not given the gadgets. Punjab Education Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman and MPA Mohsin Latif tried to console the protesters but failed. Later, three students – Iqra, Bushra and Imran – were called on the sidelines of the stage and MNA Khawaja Saad Rafique and Higher Education Secretary Dr Ijaz Munir also negotiated with them. Students said that they were being victimised for no reason. As Mr Rafique tried to put off the matter saying that they would be given laptops, students demanded assurance in black and white. At this, Mr Rehman got infuriated and abused them. However, Mr Rafique asked the minister to be decent with students. Later, Mr Rafique called faculty of Islamic Studies Dean Prof Dr Hafiz Mahmood Akhtar and asked him to explain students’ position. Prof Akhtar said that those students, who had left the university after Dec 31, 2011, were not eligible for laptops. Imran, a law college student, said since the scheme was meant for first division holders, no law student could get the first division and the government should give laptops to all law students scoring second divisions. The education minister turned down his plea. The students returned to their protesting class fellows and continued protest till the end of the ceremony. Islamic Studies Department students held a sit-down at the university administration block till 4pm. They negotiated with the faculty of Islamic Studies dean Prof Dr Hafiz Mahmood Akhtar. Students told reporters Prof Akhtar had even denied to accept them as Islamic Studies department students. They said that they would also stage a protest demonstration in front of chief minister’s house on Saturday (today). Special students: Punjab University special students staged a protest demonstration at the main entrance to the laptop distribution venue and demanded that they should also be given laptops. Six blind students of the Pakistan Study Centre, Law College, political science and special education departments kept on standing at the Law College main entrance for almost four hours while holding placards demanding laptops. They urged Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to give laptops to 14 special students studying at the Punjab University.
Government of Punjab has taken a revolutionary step, as it seems in the first look, for celebration of merit in the province because it has announced to give free laptops to 100,000 students who have scored at least 70% marks in their last semesters of MA, MSc, BS Hons or LLB. Besides, the students of PhD, LLM, MS and M.Phil will get the free laptops regardless of their marks, whereas the top 100 students of every Matriculation and Intermediate board will also get the free laptops in prize from the provincial government. The registration of eligible students for this offer will continue till the 31st December, and the eligible students are being informed to register their names through proper channels before the last date for registration expires.
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