QUETTA: The Balo­chistan Assem­bly allowed for debate in the next session two identical adjournment motions moved by the opposition and treasury members on Monday, regarding the attack on Pakhtun students in Punjab University allegedly by supporters of the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) during the Pakhtun Culture Day two weeks ago.

The motions were tabled by Deputy Opposition Leader Engineer Zamarak Khan Piralizai, Nasarullah Zerey and William Johan Burkat. The session was presided over by Speaker Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani.

The movers said that IJT activists atta­cked the Pakhtun students who were obser­ving Pakhtun Culture Day on March 21, and injured male and female students belonging to Balo­chistan. “The attack on Pakhtun students on culture day is an attack on the entire Pakhtun community,” Mr Piralizai said, adding that such attacks would not be tolerated any more.

He said that it was not the first incident of its kind against Pakhtun students. They had faced a similar situation last year and a written agreement was reached between secretary general of Jamaat-i-Islami Liaquat Baloch and Pakhtun leaders that no such incident would take place in future.

He said that despite the agreement once again Pakhtun students were badly beaten up. He said that over 600 Pakhtun students were studying in Pun­­jab University who were feeling insecure.

He said that the federal and Punjab governments had not taken notice of this situation and no legal action had so far been taken against the attackers.

Nasarullah Zerey of Pak­h­tunkhawa Milli Awami Party termed the attack as closing of the doors on Baloch and Pakhtun students in Punjab University.

He dem­anded that an FIR be registered against the elements involved in attacking Pakhtun students.

He said that the authorities concerned were warning the Pakhtun students that if they would not withdraw their complaint against the attackers, an FIR would be registered against them also.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2017