Court remands 37 students in police custody

LAHORE: A court on Wednesday handed over at least 37 students to police on three-day physical remand for staging a protest outside the University of Central Punjab (UCP) against on-campus exams.

A large number of students and their parents had gathered in Model Town Katchery to express solidarity with the arrested students. However, they were not allowed inside the courtroom.

The arrested students were brought to the court premises in a police van, however, they were not presented before the court and the case proceedings commenced in their absence.

The defence counsel pleaded for bail, which was declined by the court. The judge handed over the students facing charges of rioting to the police on physical demand on the request of the prosecution.

The students and their supporters present on the occasion accused the police and UCP administration of bias and said the security guards involved in attacking them had been left untouched. They demanded registration of cases against the officials and release of the students, asserting that peaceful protest was their right.

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Lahore police had registered a case against at least 94 nominated students and hundreds of unidentified persons under sections 452, 506b, 148, 149, 427, 342, 290, 291, 440, 436, 269 and 270 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and section 16 of Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law.

The police alleged in the first information report (FIR) that the students had attacked the university and damaged its property.

A large number of students had gathered outside the university’s Johar Town campus to demand online exams on Tuesday. The protest largely remained peaceful except an incident of violence wherein the UCP guards used force to contain the students trying to enter the university premises.

Sources said that due to baton-charge by the varisty guards, a student identified as Shah Jahan was seriously injured and was admitted to the Jinnah hospital. Some other students also suffered injuries during the demonstration.

It was alleged that a few students had resorted to violence, torching the university gate and damaging property.

Hundreds of students from universities all over the province, including the Veterinary University, University of Engineering and Technology, University of South Asia, FAST and others have been protesting against on-campus exams.

Two days back, a large number of students of University of Mangement and Technology (UMT) had also staged a protest over the same demand. They ended the sit-in after their demands were met.

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On the same day, thousands of students of Ghazi University in DG Khan and adjoining areas had also staged protests against on-campus exams. Their demands were also accepted.

Meanwhile, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) after consultation with vice chancellors of universities announced that universities may choose to conduct online exams if a need arises depending on their readiness.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28th, 2021.