KARACHI, April 20: Killing of a student within the premises of the Government College of Commerce and Economics on Thursday has further deepened the concern among teachers and students in the city.
Principal of the college Prof Jalaluddin Chowhan said that in view of the situation, female students had already been asked not to turn up on Friday. A decision about the attendance of male students would be taken after reviewing the situation on Friday morning, he added.
The college, located within the ‘high security zone’ opposite the PIDC building, has different sections for male and female students. Teaching for male students is also conducted in the afternoon shift. Female students of the intermediate classes, who were taking their preliminary tests, rushed out screaming when the armed men scaled the walls and main gate of the college on Thursday before, shooting a student, Akmal Shirazi, dead.
“It is difficult to manage students, particularly female, amidst such a situation. However, when the strength of law-enforcement agency personnel at the college was enhanced, we evacuated the students,” Prof Chowhan said.
In reply to a question, he said that despite the fact that there prevailed unrest at a few colleges over the past few days, the atmosphere at this college remained peaceful and conducive to academic activities before the Thursday incident.
“I was engaged with a team of BIE in my room at the time of the incident, but as per the information provided by my staff, I can say that no clash prior to the armed attack had taken place at the college. The attackers were also outsiders,” said Mr Chowhan.
He said that the high-ups, including the EDO Colleges, Dr Rafiq A Siddiqui, had been informed that teachers, staff and students were scared in the wake of the incident and they were feeling insecure. As such, security at the college should be beefed up.
The college is among the five-seven ‘sensitive colleges’ on the list of those requiring a full-fledged deployment of LEA personnel.
Academic circle fear that if proper security and reconciliatory measures are not taken promptly, academic peace at educational institutions may face a serious threat in the coming days.
Meanwhile, in an immediate reaction to the fatal attack, activists of a student group which claims that the deceased belonged to it, observed protest at several educational institutions, including the University of Karachi.
Supporter of a group held demonstration on the campus at 12.15pm and disturbed teaching at some classes.
Departure of the university’s point bus service was also delayed, said a source on the campus. It was learnt that after the show by a particular group, classes in the morning and evening could not be held viably.
In order to prevent further unrest, the university on Thursday announced special measures to be taken on Friday. Security would be beefed up and activists of the groups creating a law and order situation would be dealt with accordingly, said an official of the university.
Protesters disturbed teaching at the two campuses of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences and Technology on Thursday. After 12:30pm, no classes could be held at the Gulshan-i-Iqbal and Abdul Haq campuses, said an official of the university, adding that academic activities on the campuses would be held as usual on Friday.
A bus-load of protesting students arrived at the Adamjee Science College in New Town area, a senior teacher said, adding that they came at around 12:30 but the classes were over by that time as a routine.
However, the students disrupted traffic around the college. Keeping in view the situation and inadequate deployment of police and Rangers, teachers of the college have expressed their inability to take classes on Friday and Saturday.
