Source: United Students Federation

* Former IJT activists among ISF founders
* Students say IJT threatens their lives
* PU teacher says students happy with Dr Kamran’s appointment as PU VC
* PU registrar says students allowed to express their freedom

By Adnan Lodhi

LAHORE: The Punjab University (PU) students have formed Insaf Students Federation (ISF), a new students union backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), against Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT).

Formal announcements in this regard will be made in a few days.

The PU students, former IJT activists, who parted their ways
with the IJT after manhandling of Imran Khan by its activists, are among the founders of the ISF.

A meeting of students from several institutes was held a few days ago at the PTI office. In which the
students announced to form the ISF across the country.

A participant of the meeting said PTI vice president Ejaz Chaudhry had headed the meeting. Students from the Lahore University of Management Sciences, the King Edward Medical University, the University of Engineering and Technology, the PU and the Lahore School of Economics attended the meeting.

It was decided in the meeting that the PU would be the hub of ISF activities.

ISF convener Muhammad Madni told Daily Times it had been decided in the meeting that the ISF would work for the students’ welfare. “Several student unions are already present in institutions and we know that they will create problems for us, but students are free to join a union of their choice.”

Some former IJT workers said they would support the ISF on the PU campus. They said the IJT had threatened them with dire consequences for supporting the ISF.

A PU student, who attended the meeting, said PTI chairman Imran Khan was the only popular leader among the youth. He said he had resigned from IJT membership soon after it manhandled Khan on the campus.

PU IJT media secretary Imran kiyani said, “We did not threaten anyone with dire consequences. The IJT has never created problems on the campus.”

On condition of anonymity, a PU teacher told Daily Times soon after the appointment of Professor Mujahid Kamran as the new PU vice chancellor, some pro-IJT teachers, who were controlling the PU affairs, resigned from their additional duties.

The PU students, he said, who had launched the anti-IJT movement were happy with the appointment of Professor Kamran. “In the past, the students had gone through a tough time due to the IJT’s stronghold on the campus. The ISF will get a better response from the students, because Imran Khan is a national figure.”

PU registrar Dr Naeem Khan said the students were free to express
their freedom. “We are trying to provide a peaceful environment to the students on the campus.”

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Tags: ISF, Jamiat, King Edward, LSE, LUMS, Punjab Universrty, Students, Unions