GUJRAT: The administration of the University of Gujrat has formally asked the district government to seal the private hostel adjacent to the Hafiz Hayat Campus since the first floor of the hostel building has been a security risk for the varsity, especially the residential colony of the staff.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Ziaul Qayyum told Dawn on Friday he had conveyed varsity’s reservations to DCO Liaqat Ali Chattha.

The hostel is owned by a local PML-N leader who got it established due to his political influence despite strong opposition by the UoG management. The matter is currently pending in a civil court.

The VC said that he had emphasized on the district administration to at least get sealed the first floor of the private building and let the shops of the building remain functional till the final decision. He said the residential colony of senior officials of the varsity, including that of the VC house, was located only a few yards away and movement of the senior staff could easily be monitored from the hostel rooms of the building.

The VC said he had directed the officials concerned of the varsity to install more cameras on the campus besides making the existing cameras unctional in the wake of the current situation in the country.

He said the local police had pointed out at least 11 points along the boundary wall of the campus where observatory posts could be set up. He said that the situation at the campus was normal and there must not be any cause of panic among the parents regarding the security situation.

FINANCIAL AID: The Punjab government has provided a sum of Rs 150,000 for the treatment of three siblings of labourer Muhammad Mohsin suffering from a mysterious disease since long but do not have resources for treatment.

Gujrat DCO Liaqat Ali Chattha and PML-N MPA Haji Imran Zafar visited the house of the labourer on Friday and handed over the cheque.

A request for the assistance has been made by the district government.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2014