September 23, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 22, 1429

LAHORE, Sept 22: The Punjab University (PU) has decided to make a thorough search of its hostels after the discovery of arms and ammunition dumped in a university ground adjacent to New Campus hostels, PU Registrar Prof Dr Naeem Khan told a press conference on Monday.

Present on the occasion, Resident Officer-I Prof Dr Bashir Ahmad said an ‘across-the-board’ search would be carried out by a ‘high-powered’ committee formed by the vice-chancellor and consisting of officials from university administration, hostels and other institutions.

The PU will also buy metal detectors to check the presence of weapons in hostels.

Hall Council chairman Prof Dr Saeed Nagra and Chief Secrecy Officer Abdul Rehman Sial were also present.

The administration unearthed five Kalashnikovs, 12 hand-grenades, 12 magazines, 12 hand-grenade pins and around 1,300 bullets dumped in two leather bags on Sunday.

Officials admitted that arms had always remained present in hostels since 1970s, but the present administration’s pro-active approach had made it tough for residents to keep weapons.

Prof Nagra said the search operation in hostels would be launched late on Monday. He said law enforcement agencies would also be called, if required.

He said students organisations would be monitored closely to ensure that there were no weapons on the university campus.

Prof Ahmad said the seizure of dumped arms and ammunition had panicked some ‘miscreant residents’ to the extent that they threw a rusty Kalashnikov and two loaded magazines near the spot where the weapons were found on Sunday. He presented the gun and loaded magazines before the media, saying the gun could be made operative after some maintenance.

He said the university would issue stickers of different colours to teachers, students and employees for their identification. He said the vehicles with no stickers would be searched at all entrance points. He said outsiders would be issued tokens on their entrance to the university, which they would have to return at the time of departure.

Registrar Prof Khan said the university would maintain peace on its campuses at all cost and promote healthy activities for the training and development of students. If student union elections were held, he said, it would be ensured that no weapons be brandished on the campuses.

Also, a PU news release said Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran has directed the officials to monitor the hostels as well as student organisations’ office-bearers.

The VC also called a special meeting of deans and senior teachers, which decided to increase security in the university and install CCTV cameras at all entrances.