LAHORE: The Punjab University administration announced steps on Friday to improve security and to avoid clashes that happened on Tuesday between two student groups.
An official told media that biometric machines would be installed in all 27 hostels to stop entry of “non-PU students” or general visitors. The boarders will be denied entry after 10pm,” he said.
He said the meetings would only be allowed during academic hours and if there was any emergency, such meetings would be allowed after academic hours with the permission of the concerned authority. Biometric machines had already been installed in two hostels, he added.
The official said the administration had imposed a ban on holding any sort of extracurricular activities by student unions/organisations within the campus as university administration will be the sole authority to conduct such activities.
He said any organization or group seeking to hold such an activity would have to send a proposal to the administration. If the admin feels that the event is important and good for healthy academic environment, it will own and organise it after an approval by a committee to be formed for this purpose, the official said, adding those proposing it would have no role in its organisation.
He said chief guests invited by any group/organization in any illegally-held function wouldn’t be allowed entry into the campus as a special vigilance cell would be constituted to keep a close eye on such activities. Similarly, media would not be allowed to cover illegal functions.
“This decision has been taken in view of participation of Jamaat-i-Islami leader Samia Raheel Qazi in an event about which the varsity had not accorded any permission,” he added.
The official said a proposal was under study to close all varsity entrances except gate No 1. He said the admin would use full force to stop any illegal function. The varsity had also cancelled the three-day book fair that was scheduled to be held from April 6 to 8.
