PU strikers are associated with Taliban:Minister for Education Punjab

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Education Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan has appealed to the parents of those students who are stopping the academic process in Punjab University through brawl, interfering in smooth flow of traffic, snatching keys from drivers of public transport and hooliganism not to allow their children to become tools of such elements who are putting the educational future of young generation at stake for their vested interest.

He was talking to media at the premises of Punjab University today. He said that police has arrested the nominated accused involved in physical assault of two respectable teachers of Punjab University, threatening to kill them and aerial firing. He said that those armed elements involved in instigating students on protest for the release of these accused have been associated with Taliban and they have taken illegal refuge in various hostels of Punjab University.

Rana Mashhood said that government did not take action against anyone on personal revenge. He said that some students making claims of belonging to some student organizations have become so-called nazim whereas no student union can nominate its office-bearers without getting it registered. He said that all student unions have been banned for the last one decade and this law is still enforced as the law has not been presented in any assembly of the country for discussion, therefore, the organizational activities of students in educational institutions are illegal.

Replying  to a question, Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan said that the administration of Punjab University has sealed hostel No.16 temporarily and the boy students of this hostel has been accommodated in other hostels whereas hostel No.16 has been allocated to female students. He said that this decision has been taken due to the increasing number of female students in Punjab University. He disclosed that special committees have been set up in all government colleges and universities who have been given powers to identify and take legal action against the elements residing in hostels illegally.