HRCP slams torture on students

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Monday slammed torture on the students by hooligans at the Punjab University Lahore. The HRCP has expressed concerns over torture on the students of Punjab University's Philosophy Department by armed activists allegedly belonging to Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) on Sunday. Almost seven students were injured.
"The commission notes with concern the intimidation and harassment of the students and teachers at the Punjab University's Philosophy Department by activists allegedly belonging to IJT," says a statement issued by the HRCP. Over two dozen young men, at least five of them carrying firearms and the rest armed with rods and sticks, attacked hostel number 7 of the university and dragged students of the Philosophy Department out of their rooms and severely beat them up. At least seven students were injured and two had to be hospitalised, including one who was thrown from the first floor.
A vice-superintendent of the hostel, who was held at gunpoint throughout the over one hour long attack, and a guard were also injured. Despite making so many calls to the police emergency number, police personnel did not arrive at the scene.
HRCP has serious concerns over a pattern of violence and intimidation against teachers and students for which IJT has been blamed. It recalls that recently faculty and students of the Philosophy Department had held a protest against violence by IJT activists. IJT activists had tried to disrupt that protest and had beaten up the university guards. Female students and teachers at the university were also abused and threatened.
HRCP is also alarmed by the display and use of weapons at the university and apprehends that unless those responsible are held and tried for the crime the students might start thinking that the only way for them to protect themselves against attacks by hooligans is to acquire weapons.
HRCP calls upon the university administration and the Punjab government to take stern action to ensure that such lawlessness and hooliganism in one of the country's biggest universities does not go unpunished. The authorities are urged to make full effort to deal with the people who were responsible for the attack at the university hostel.