ISLAMABAD, 16 April 2007 — Activists belonging to the Islami Jamiat-e-Tulaba attacked a social function at the Punjab University in Lahore to protest “vulgarity, obscenity and immorality” late on Saturday.
More than 80 activists of the group beat up the students, both boys and girls, and teachers who took part in the function. Around a dozen students and a teacher, Zeeshan Daneesh, and a guard were beaten up. Anyone who tried to stop the IJT activists was beaten up and even the girl students were not spared, the Daily Times newspaper reported yesterday.
The attackers also broke a multimedia projector, a crystal dais, windows, crockery and flowerpots, college officials said. The IJT activists, led by Muhammad Ayub, first hijacked three of the varsity’s buses from its new campus and traveled to the old campus where the event was organized. They sabotaged the celebrations saying it was un-Islamic.
“They entered the campus and declared war against the administration for allegedly promoting (the function),” an official said.
“The university authorities informed the nearest police station but the police reached “after the activists had already wreaked havoc,” the daily said.
IJT’s Muhammad Ayub said the festival was attacked because a “dance party” had been scheduled for the night. He added that girl students of the varsity were being “forced” to participate in it.
