Review PU Controversy

SHIA STUDENTS IN PUNJAB UNIVERSITY MANHANDLED BY THE ADMINISTRATION FOR OFFERING COLLECTIVE PRAYERS.

Once again the shia students in university of the punjab are facing religious discrimination from administration.

Before the start of Ramazan the hostelized Shia students gave an application to the vice chancellor of the Punjab University for a separate prayer place for shia students due to the difficulties faced by them in offering prayers in the designated prayer rooms in each hostel and also for their justified religious gatherings (duas, dars, lectures etc) but the VC paid no heed to this application and denied it on the grounds that it was an attempt to fan sectarianism and that it can have serious consequences on the situation of discipline of the university. Such an application was also moved last year and then it was decided that the shias are allowed to offer prayers collectively only in their respective hostels and no separate place was awarded for prayer and other religious gatherings. But it had many complications some of which are given below.

· shia students are in very limited numbers and offering collective prayers in each hostel was not possible hence they demanded that they should be provided a separate prayer place that will also serve as a place for their justified religious gatherings which are not secret at all and any one can join them , These include supplications(DUAS; dua-e-kumial, tawasul, hadis-e-kisa etc).

· The other reason being that in the designated prayer rooms the collective prayers are offered by Brothers of Ahl-e-sunnat and after their prayer they hold a Quran circle and holding collective prayers after this by shias is not possible due to time constraints faced by the students and also awkward (that the shias keep waiting and the brothers of Ahl-e-sunnat in a hurry to provide them the ample space for prayer, duas etc);

There is no problem in providing separate prayer place for the Shia students because in whole Pakistan and in major universities of pakistan the mosques of shias and sunnis are separate due to their respective differences of Fiqh and yet the shia and sunni muslim brothers are living in perfect harmony all over Pakistan, respecting each others views and religious freedom. Religious freedom is ensured in every law and in the mother of all laws the CONSTITUTION of Pakistan. There is no conflict over the issue of separate mosques any where in Pakistan and also in major Universities(including UET Lahore, Karachi University and many others). There is no such place in Pakistan where separate prayer areas are a point of conflict. THIS CAN NEVER SPARK SECTARIANISM AND THE STUDENTS WILL ALSO NEVER LET IT HAPPEN!

HOWEVER the shia students started to offer their collective prayers in the vicinity of university hostels but the university administration which included the Resident Officer, Chairman Hall Council and student Adviser interrupted and also brought approximately 50 guards of the University who manhandled the students even during the Call for the prayer(AZAN), aqamat and namaz. The shia students had only one option that is to offer prayer outside the designated prayer rooms in every hostel because in every prayer room brothers of Fiqah hanfia (Ahlesunnat) offer prayers collectively and after the prayer they hold a regular Quran-Circle therefore it is impossible for the shia students to offer collective prayers in the same prayer area.

The shia students demanded separate prayer area for Shias so that they can easily offer prayers with religious freedom but the admin's view was that it will fan religious sectarianism. The shia students said that at least 15 universities in pakistan have allowed separate area for Shias then how will it fan the said sectarianism rather it will provide a congenial learning environment due to freedom of offering religious practices and that it is the basic right of every individual. It will also have a positive consequence for the admin as the ones respecting and protecting religious freedom.

If someone does not allow the just rights to anyone than one day they can demand their unjust rights too due to frustration and despair.

Hence students started prayer in STC (Student teacher centre) ground collectively but the admin tortured them and took away the 'safain'. This was reported to police who also supported the students and their just demands and also came the next day in university for the protection of students.

Students protested and then the VC called them for a dialogue. It was decided that if the major universities are allowing the separate prayer place to students then we will consider allowing this. The decision is then postponed till Monday!(September 15,08)

May Allah help the students in gaining their religious freedom that will only sooth the university's environment.