KARACHI, March 19: Graffiti and flags of various organizations would be removed from campuses to develop spirit of tolerance among students and maintain an atmosphere conducive for conducting studies peacefully. This was decided in a meeting of vice-chancellors of various varsities presided over by Sindh Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui on Saturday.

The meeting also decided to make the hostels free of drugs and weapons and promote healthy activities at the campuses.

Briefing the media after the meeting at his office, Mr Siddiqui said, the decisions would apply to all the universities of the province and impartiality would be maintained while taking any action.

To a query, he said the government had reports about presence of narcotics and weapons at the hostels of educational institutions therefore it had been decided to take action. He however clarified that this should not be construed as any operation, as the action would only be taken when and wherever the presence of such things was reported.

The minister said that there would be a total ban on wall chalking and hoisting party flags in the universities, as such activities caused hatred and conflicts among the students‘ groups.

The leaders of different students‘ organizations would also be invited to the meetings asking them to remove the graffiti and flags themselves. In case of non-compliance, the administration would be compelled to do it, he added.

The meeting also decided to hold periodical meetings of vice-chancellors for reviewing the situation and preparing proposals for resolving day-to-day issues.

The first of such meetings would be held at the Karachi University, the minister told. Mr Siddiqui said that police and Rangers would not interfere in the implementation of the decision however they would be present to extend backup support to the university administration. He said he would favour restoration of student unions if there was no bloodshed and peace was maintained.

The minister categorically stated that there was no proposal under consideration to impose ban on student organizations however political activities would not be allowed inside the educational institutions.

A code of ethics already exists for colleges that bar such activities, he said. Vice-chancellors of Federal Urdu University of Fine Arts, Science & Technology, Sir Syed university and Karachi University were also present on the occasion. —PPI