Imran’s speech at GCU Lahore stirs up new row
ISLAMABAD: The Government College University (GCU) Lahore has come a ‘centre of controversy’ following former prime minister Imran Khan’s hard hiting speech targeting his political opponents especially Pakistan Muslim League-nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz at the institution’s Oval ground.
A social media trend purportedly generated by the PML-N against GCU Vice-chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Asghar Zaidi for what the party of the Sharifs said “allowing Imran Khan to hold his public meeting at the prestigious institution.”
Acting switly, the PML-N led federal government removed Dr Zaidi from the VC’S Search Commitee.
Over 50,000 tweets targeted the VC (#Removevcofgcu) with PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz calling for ‘action’ against him (Dr Zaidi).
Even Federal Education Minister Rana Tanvir Hussain and Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman jumped into the controversy and supported their leader (Maryam Nawaz) in this respect.
The GCU VC was quick to remind his detractors that in known universities of the world, students got the opportunity to hear all kinds of political views from the varsity forum.
“The varsities have the right to be engaged in the political debate of the time. The world over, political leaders come to universities to address youth, and we don’t discriminate on the basis whether they are in the government or in the opposition,” Dr Zaidi said.
He also said the Punjab Information Technology Board had organised the event and chose the guest list.
“When the chief guest is speaking, he cannot be instructed what to say and what not,” he said and added the GCU operated within the territorial jurisdiction of Punjab, so it was bound to follow the directions of the Punjab government.
In a tweet Maryam Nawaz said: “Strict action must be taken against the GCU VC for desecrating an educational institution by lending it to a
Fitna (Imran Khan) & organising his jalsa on the premises. Using a seat of learning for political hate-mongering is a crime that should not go unpunished.” Governor Baligur Rehman in a statement said: “As a chancellor, I have taken notice of organising a political programme in the GCU. There is no scope for such political gatherings in universities. “Children are our future and they should not be pushed into politics.”
Punjab Information Technology Minister Dr Arslan Khalid replied to Ms Nawaz on Twiter saying: “Why don’t you (Maryam) or Shehbaz Sharif go and visit GCU or any university yourself and make whatever speech you want?