TAXILA, Oct 9: The University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Taxila administration and law enforcement agencies have intensified vigilance in the university hostels to check any activity by banned religio-political organisations and criminals.

This was done on the directives of the Punjab government and provincial higher education department to check criminal activities in the university premises.

According to sources, the Punjab government had written notices to vice chancellors of all universities in Punjab to ensure strict arrangements in hostels and university campuses. This order came after the arrest of Al-Qaeda suspects from the hostel of Punjab University, Lahore.

A police report and other documents revealed that the Punjab government, through a letter dated September 20, 2013, had stated that students of proscribed religious and political organisations were harnessing criminals from public universities.

“This is a serious issue and requires immediate action by vice chancellors and registrars of universities…..by preparing [a] “public university premises security and protection plan” for each university,” the letter stated.

The document said all criminal activities in universities should be stopped and the protection of life and property of all students and faculty members should be ensured.

The plan includes monitoring of entry and exit points in the hostels, verifications of students’ roll call, installation of CCTV cameras in hostel corridors and others. “This document should be prepared in consultation with local police authorities and should be subsequently approved by the syndicate of the university in its next meeting,” it added

According to the letter, all hostel wardens and administrative authorities would be directed to furnish certificates on a monthly basis stating that no criminal people stayed in the hostel.

An official of UET said this was a positive step and the Punjab higher education secretary had clearly stated that no tolerance would be shown in this regard.

While talking to Dawn, Director Students’ Affairs Prof Tahir Nadeem Malik said on the instruction of the provincial government, UET had intensified surveillance in the boys’ and girls’ hostels.

He said various security agencies were also consulted in this regard.