LAHORE: Police on Monday arrested 40 Islami Jamiat Tulba (IJT) activists at the new campus of the Punjab University for ‘obstructing’ examinations.

The students were also involved in several other cases of damaging property, clashing with each other and injuring the fellow students.

A large number of IJT activists were protesting against the sports sciences department administration for not allowing the students to take the examination.

However, the administration had reported the matter to police that the IJT activists were creating problems to hold examinations.

A heavy police contingent approached the physical education department when a large number of IJT activists gathered there and asked the administration to allow their fellow students to take the examination.

PU IJT spokesperson Muhammad Shehbaz said the IJT activists were protesting peacefully outside the department for not allowing the students to sit in the [examination] hall and police attacked them and arrested them.

He said they were also protesting against the administration for increasing the fee and also failing to provide a better environment on the campus.

A PU spokesperson said the students were expelled from the university on different charges and they were not allowed to take examinations.

He said the IJT activists gathered and stopped the examination and the administration had to approach the police to normalise the situation.

He said the police timely intervened and arrested the ‘trouble makers’ and later the examination concluded on time.

Model Town Superintendent of Police Dr Raza Tanveer told Dawn that 40 IJT activists were arrested for obstructing the examination.

He said the students were not allowed to take exam but they forcibly entered the hall and action was taken for obstructing the examination and challenging the peaceful environment of the campus.

He said several students were also involved in some other cases and police would complete investigation.

On Monday night, hundreds of IJT members gathered on the Campus Bridge and blocked the Canal Road, demanding release of the activists.

According to eyewitnesses, the IJT activists were carrying clubs and pistols to stop the motorists.

IJT spokesperson Shahbaz said they were blocking the road to demand release of their fellow students. “We will not go back to hostels without taking our fellow students with us,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2022