July 03, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 28, 1429

LAHORE, July 2: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on Wednesday expressed its concern at the authorities’ failure to redress the grievances of the unlawfully expelled Ahmedi students of a Faisalabad college and demanded strict action against the trouble-makers.

In a statement, HRCP Co-chairman Iqbal Haider said the rustication of 23 Ahmedi students of the Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad, early last month on the ground of their belief was apparently a case of extraordinary discrimination. The HRCP, therefore, requested a senior member of its governing body to probe the matter.

This inquiry showed that while rusticating the students, the college administration did not follow the rules prescribed for this extreme action; that the committee of teachers set up to examine the victims after the event included teachers who were in the body that had taken the decision to rusticate them; and that a few students who appeared before the investigating committee were unduly harassed and intimidated. There were also indications that some members of the faculty colluded with the Ahmedi-baiting trouble-makers.

The commission is, therefore, seriously apprehensive of justice being denied to the unlawfully expelled students. It calls upon the provincial and federal governments to intervene immediately to protect the wronged students and deal firmly with hate-preachers.