Web Desk (LTN NEWS): On Monday, Imran Khan gave a harsh speech at the university’s Oval ground about his political opponents, including PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz.
The PML-N is said to have started a trend on social media against GCU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Asghar Zaidi for “allowing Imran Khan to hold his public meeting at the prestigious institution,” as the Sharifs’ party put it.
Even the Federal Minister of Education, Rana Tanvir Hussain, and the Governor of Punjab, Balighur Rehman, joined the debate and backed their leader, Maryam, in this matter.
GCU VC was quick to remind those who didn’t like him that in well-known universities around the world, students could hear all kinds of political views at the varsity forum. “Colleges and universities have a right to take part in the political debates of the day. “Political leaders from all over the world come to universities to talk to young people, and we don’t care if they are in the government or the opposition,” Dr. Zaidi told Dawn.
VC also said that the Punjab Information Technology Board had set up the event and decided who would be there. “When the chief guest is speaking, he can’t be told what to say and what not to say,” he said. He also said that the GCU worked in the territory of Punjab, so it had to do what the Punjab government told it to do.
Maryam Nawaz said in a tweet, “Strict action must be taken against the GCU VC for defiling an educational institution by lending it to a Fitna and letting him hold his jalsa there.” Hate speech about politics on a college campus is a crime that should not go unpunished.”
In a statement, Governor Baligur Rehman said, “As chancellor, I have noticed that the GCU is planning a political programme. There is no place for these kinds of political meetings in schools. Children are our future, and no one should force them to get involved in politics.”
Dr. Arslan Khalid, Minister of Information Technology for Punjab, replied to Ms. Nawaz on Twitter, “Why don’t you or Shehbaz Sharif go to GCU or any other university and give whatever speech you want? All over the world, universities are where people who become leaders go to school. It’s not our fault if you people can’t deal with youth.
The Federal Education Minister, Rana Tanvir, is said to have taken Dr. Zaidi off the Search Committee for the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training.
On September 13, the federal education minister put together a committee to choose the vice chancellors of Quaid-i-Azam University, Allama Iqbal University, and the rector of International Islamic University, Islamabad. The head of the committee is the federal education minister.
A source told Dawn that after Imran Khan spoke at the GCU event, the education minister told Dr. Zaidi to leave the search committee. He said that at the minister’s request, Joint Secretary Raja Muhammad Akhtar sent out a notice that took VC GCU off the search committee.
Sources said that Dr. Zaidi had been replaced as a member of the Search Committee by Dr. Shoiab Mir. They also said that the minister asked the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to do something about the VC “according to the law.”
“I can’t say enough bad things about what happened today at GC University, which is one of the oldest places of learning but was turned into a stage for a PTI leader who spreads hatred. Rana Tanvir said in a tweet that he had told the authorities to punish VC GCU in a harsh way.
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