KARACHI, April 7: Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST) has imposed ban on political activities at both its campuses following Sindh Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui’s orders, who visited FUUAST’s Gulshan campus on Thursday to review law and order situation. According to a notification issued by the FUUAST administration, all students, teachers and non-teaching staff were barred from taking part in political activities, and anybody found indulged in such activities could face penalties of fine or even expulsion from the varsity.

Following issuance of notification, Rangers deployed at the varsity started crackdown against student organizations and removed all notice boards, banners, flags and graffiti from the campus.

According to some FUUAST students, the minister on his visit to the varsity invited all political organizations at the office of vice-chancellor Dr Iqbal Mohsin.

They said Mr Siddiqui told them that no student organization, irrespective of their political affiliations would be allowed to hoist flags and banners and hold any kind of ceremonies at the campus.

The students added that he also asked representatives of student organizations to sign some papers, according to which political activities had been banned at the varsity. On refusal by the students, the minister became enraged and ordered action against student’s organizations.

It is worth mentioning here that an activist of Pukhtoon Students Federation (PSF) was killed in a clash with All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organization (APMSO) at FUUAST campus a few months back, after which outside elements were not coming at the campus due to fear of retaliation.—PPI