Atif Mian
On Thursday, June 5th, the principal of Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad, expelled every student who belonged to the Ahmadi community from the college.
A total of twenty three students, fifteen female and eight male, across the five years of medical school have been expelled as a result. Further details regarding the incident can also be found in reports from the BBC and from the Daily Times.
The Ahmadi students were “accused” of preaching their religious beliefs. The principal was pressured into expelling the entire Ahmadi student body by a mob of protesters belonging to Islami Jamiat e Talaba. The mob circled the Principal’s office and demanded the expulsions. The same day, a mob of about 300 college students also barged into Ahmadi students’ rooms, beat them and threw their luggage out of their rooms.
What makes this incident especially troubling is the fact that the decision to expel Ahmadi students was taken by a government-run medical school, under full knowledge of the relevant Punjab ministries.
As an academic, and a Pakistani, I am totally appalled by this latest incidence of religious fanaticism. One hopes that the present Punjab government turns a page, and instead of supporting the forces of extremism, comes to the protection of its ordinary citizens.
Atif Mian is Associate Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business.
More trouble brewing for these kids;
http://www.express.com.pk/epaper/Article.aspx?news ID=1100429362&Date=20080620&Issue=NP_LHE
Where are human rights activists and civil society when you need them?
Mullahs are threatening violence and nationwide riots. Salman Taseer is not on their most favoured list either;
http://www.dailyislam.pk/dailyislam/Images/news/na tional/daily/nat-03.jpg
This problem began with current government in place while those students were studying there for years without a problem. Shehbaz government is not doing anything to contain this either and their student wing MSF is actually involved in this incident.
If the commitee decides to bring them back which is highly unlikely because the mullahs have threatened them with bloodbaths, there will be a bloodbath. The ‘Mulsims’ of PMC, our future doctors will let nothing stand in their way. If a ‘westernized’ leader like Bhutto can cower under the pressure these mullahs can exert how can you expect the administration at PMC to think straight. The tensions are simply too high. If I were one of these students I would start looking at immigration prospects. Leave it until its too late.
The mullahs are too powerful in Pakistan. I don’t see these students getting back in PMC. They should look at other career options.
“The persecution of Ahmadis even under the present mangled constitution is patently unconstitutional. A fair court of law would have noticed and pounced on the Ahmadi-specific legislation that has crept into our statute books for every single one of these laws violate a couple dozen fundamental rights accorded to the citizens of Pakistan not the least Article 20 which gives every citizen the right to practice and propagate his or her religion without any caveats.”
A useful related article on another blog:
http://www.chowk.com/articles/14234