BAHAWALPUR, March 12: The candidates of Islamia University’s MPhil (mass communication) programme on Wednesday boycotted the second paper to protest against what they said rules violation.

The candidates also lodged a protest with Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Munir Akhtar against the controller examination and the centre’s supervisory staff, accusing them of adopting harsh attitude.

More than 50 per cent of the students boycotted the second paper (mass communication research method) immediately after receiving the question papers.

They complained the paper, according to the rules, should be of 75 marks, but it carried 100 marks.

They also said the university authorities had not given them the prescribed time for preparation, and the paper was out of syllabus.

Sources said when the protesting students reached the VC’s office at 9.30am to register a complaint, controller examination Shafiq Khan threatened them with dire consequences.

Receiving the students’ application, the VC assured them that he would discuss the matter with the relevant staff.

PILLION-RIDING: The district police challaned 52 people for violating ban on pillion-riding here in the last 24 hours, according to police.