LAHORE, May 10: The Punjab University (PU) administration has decided to put up “high grade resistance” to the Islami Jamiat Tulaba (IJT), which is geared to organise a three-day book fair at the varsity’s New Campus main corridor from May 13.

At a news conference at the PU Executive Club, Students Adviser Dr Mujahid Mansoori, Resident Officer-I Prof Dr Bashir Ahmad and Physics Department Chairman Prof Dr Shaukat Ali said the book fair being organised by a “group of university students as well as external elements” would be an illegal activity in the light of the decision of the Syndicate meeting held in 2005 and Deans’ Committee decision made on June 4, 2007.

He said the book fair organisers did not seek any permission as they had only submitted an unsigned application on the letterhead of Tulaba Taqreebaat Committee.

Dr Mansoori, who is also the university spokesman, appealed to the publishers and booksellers to avoid becoming part of the illegal activity, as the university administration was itself coordinating with them for the purchase of books for the university libraries.

As the IJT leaders had announced the holding of the book fair with full determination, Dr Mansoori said the PU administration had approached the Punjab government and in contact with the police to stop the book fair and maintain academic peace on the campus.