ISLAMABAD: In what could be dubbed a worrisome situation, as the administration of the International Islamic University of Islamabad (IIUI) has surrendered before the batons wielding students of Islami Jamiat Talba (IJT) and has accepted almost all of their harsh demands to ensure plying of the university buses.

A seven-member investigation committee tasked to probe the matter that led to the IJT’s students to stop buses for two days after the peaceful ending of the routine annual ‘Cultural Week’ in the university. IIUI Vice-President (AF&P) Prof Dr Muhammad Munir formed the seven-member committee to review the activities of the cultural week organized at IIUI form March 27 to April 2, 2018.

The members of the committee included Dr Atiquzzafar Khan, director general of the International Institute of Islamic Economics, as its chairman, while Prof Dr Hafiz Muhammad Bashir, Dean, Faculty of Arabic; Khalid Mahmood Raja, Director (Administration); Dr Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmed Chairman; Department of Law; Dr Asharaf Abdul Rafee, Assistant Professor and Jehanzaib Waqas, Assistant Director (Transport) are its members.

“It has been reported that some curricular and co-curricular activities are originated in the university without fully observing the prescribed procedure and Islamic norms peculiarly pertaining to segregation of male and female campuses as contained in the earlier notification of the university,” the notification reads.

“It is reiterated that the true spirit of IIUI’s Charter must always be followed in this regard as contained in section 5(4) (O) of the IIUI Ordinance which states: the university shall have the power to supervise and control the discipline of students of the university, promote co-curricular and recreational activities of such students, and make arrangements for promoting their health, Islamic personality, morality and general welfare in accordance with Islamic values,” the notification reads.

Prof Dr Muhammad Munir said that the committee would investigate the allegations if any against any individual including student adviser (male) and provost (female). The committee will give its findings by fixing responsibility on those who violated the university rules and regulations and recommend action against the violator under the rules.

The committee will also suggest a code of conduct for students with regard to extra-curricular activities of students at the university. However, before the committee investigate the matter, a number of the demands were accepted to save their own skin, as the protesting students were demanding resignation of IIUI Rector Dr Masoom Yasinzai.

Female Campus Add Director (A&F) Muhammad Yaqub Anwar issued circular that it was circulated for information of all concerned the female students are allowed to visit the male campus with a permission slip from the HOD/in-charge/nominee and approval of the director, female campus/addl director (A7F) of the Female Campus.

“All chairpersons/incharges of the departments are required to cooperate in this regard. Specific performa is attached herewith for the students who have to visit Male Campus.” The following guideline will be observed to avoid any confusion: students must have university ID card with them; the students should be accompanied with any classmate and timing for visit are from 8:30am to 2:30pm. No one will be allowed after office hours.

The time for visit to the male campus on Friday will be 8:30am to 12:30pm (before Friday prayers). This issue with the approval of the competent authority and supersede all previous circulars/office order on the subject matters. A negotiated committee headed by Dr Bashir, the head of Arabic Department, held talks with the protesting IJT students, who was eventually ready to end their protest after accepting three out of four of their demands.

A senior official wishing anonymity told Pakistan Today that the IJT was fast losing its popularity due to which they often resorted to such tactics to intact their pressure. He said that during the culture week, around 60 of IJT students were ready to disrupt the event for one or another reason but they did not find any excuse.

He said that once the event concluded peacefully, they staged a protest and started blaming the other students of chanting ‘anti-Pakistan’ slogans just in order to create mess-up in the university. Talking to Pakistan Today, IIUI spokesperson Nasir Fareed said that the university was not closed but they just stopped the buses for two days, which would be started running from Thursday (today).