ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a committee to resolve the issues of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) which recently saw clashes among its ethnic student groups.

The university every year faces closure because of clashes on the campus.

The high-powered committee is headed by Education Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain and consists of Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, Secretary Education Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry, QAU Vice Chancellor Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, Chief Commissioner Islamabad Noorul Amin Mengal and others.

Sources said the committee was likely to hold its first meeting on Wednesday. The sources said the government was planning to help the university set up a representative body of students instead of ethnic-based student politics.

Meanwhile, the newly-appointed VC of the university Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar called on the minister and the secretary education.

The participants of the meeting discussed holding of the first meeting of the high-powered committee to resolve QAU’s issues.

Last week, QAU saw ethnic-based student groups fighting each other that left two dozen students injured.

Resultantly, the university remained closed and was partially reopened on Monday only for MPhil and PhD classes.

Meanwhile, a press release about the meeting quoted the minister as saying that challenges faced by QAU required immediate attention.

The minister said issues of QAU were sensitive and needed to be delicately handled, adding the QAU was a prestigious university and the future of its students was top most priority.

The minister said no institution can thrive without accountability. He said thorough accountability played a vital role in efficient and effective management.

He said every individual was accountable for their power and authority just like he was accountable to the people of Pakistan.

The minister reiterated his resolve to ensure that all current issues of QAU would be addressed on a war footing.

The press release said the VC appreciated the trust put in him by the minister. He assured the education minister that all ongoing challenges of the QAU will be addressed immediately.

Dr Niaz said QAU was a prestigious university and had a long history. He said the role of QAU in shaping the leaders of tomorrow was pivotal. Dr Niaz assured the minister that he will carry out his duties with dedication.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2023