Moral Policing at Punjab University Lahore by IJT (Islamic Jamiat-e-Talaba is no stranger. In a recent incident, students who allegedly belonged to IJT thrashed a student’s husband. Awais Rind, who is reportedly a student of Punjab University, was there with his wife when Jamiat members spotted the couple together and beat the guy.
Beating A Student’s Husband in Punjab University Lahore
In a video that later began circulating on social media, a female student can be heard dissuading and stopping the guys from beating her husband. She can be heard saying, “who the hell they are. He is my husband.”
Governor Punjab Chaudhry Ghulam Sarwar took notice of the incident. In his tweet, he talked about issuing the directives to authorities for taking action. He also stressed upon the fact that educational institutions are the place of knowledge and not of hooliganism.
I have directed the VC (Punjab University) to investigate & take appropriate action on the terrible incident that took place today on a student. Universities are a place to gain knowledge & not a place for hooliganism!
— Mohammad Sarwar (@ChMSarwar) October 25, 2018
Later, Punjab University Lahore administration suspended five students involved in this incident.
Reaction on Social Media
The video of Jamiat guys hitting Punjab University Lahore student’s husband sparked an outrage among the social media users. Twitterati lambasted Jamiat for making the campus a hostage and making the life difficult for students through moral policing.
@ShireenMazari1 I dont know when will someone take action against Jamiyat in Punjab University. Students aren't protected & jamiyat is affecting their mental health.. please take action against em.dey r spoling human rights in wrongly using d name of Islam.@mariamsmadness plz rt pic.twitter.com/ypMAFolkgU
— Suھaib (@Azad_Khayaal) October 25, 2018
While sharing this video critic highlighted how Jamiat was successful in maintaining her hegemony in campuses despite a ban on student unions and how it was controlling major the University of Punjab and its policies.
Since decades, these so called student bodies specially jamiat has taken hostage of punjab university and they interfere in all aspects of university, hostels are divided between them and university staff and management are harassed. This must END. https://t.co/IoJeA7z31m
— Sohail Mahboob (@SohailMahboobPK) October 26, 2018
Even Punjab University Lahore students were asking why Jamiat was allowed to exercise its control on campuses against a ban.
I recently completed my final exam from Punjab University. Officially students Unions are banned in uni, but jamiat openly work. They openly tease and quarrels with others. No one is there to control them.#jamiatghundagardi https://t.co/svOjTt70xW
— Saadia Sajjad (@SajjadSaadia) October 26, 2018
They asked what if a student’s father goes to pick their daghter and these goons start beathing him up.
girl: dad can you drop me at the uni?
dad: no
girl: why?
dad: first, you study in punjab university, 2nd I am too old to take a beating.
#pu_occupied_by_goons #inhumane— Saqib Ali Rana (@saqibspen) October 26, 2018
Folks also shared the story when Imran Khan was manhandled by Jamiat goons a few years back and it showed how the student wing of Pakistan’s conservative party Jamat-e-Islami expresses its dissent and treats those whom it considers against its ideology.
Remember this Khan sb.. we were all ashamed that day your opponents and allies both, nothing can justify this, action must be taken. Now they have beaten up a husband infront of his wife for meeting her at Punjab University Campus.https://t.co/nCpo01m88c@ImranKhanPTI pic.twitter.com/Fl9VNaxls1
— Zafar Hattar (@ZafarHattar) October 25, 2018
The clash between IJT and nationlaist students organizations in Punjab University Lahore is not a new thing. It is quite often for these opposing organization to have fall out for various purposes. The issue is when there are no opposing outfits at loggerhads with each other, Jamiat still manages to create chaos or disruption. Campuses are a place of learning and exchanging ideas. But Punjab University Lahore, which is one of the most prestigious institutions of Pakistan, doesnt seem well versed in this tradition as conservative student outfits continue to curb freedom in the name of moral policing.
