 Amjad Hussain, 21, a handicapped student of the Punjab University College of Pharmacy (Old Campus) who was allegedly kidnapped and left to die in a bathroom on the campus by militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, is in fear of his life after authorities refuse to take action against his abductors despite repeated pleas. Hussain, who was allegedly marked 'wajabul qatal' (duty to kill according to belief) because of his Shia belief, was kidnapped on November 29. He was discovered by teachers - bound and gagged with a poisoned rag - after he smashed open the bathroom door where he had been locked up.
| The fraternity brothers at I Phelta Thi never did anything like this to me. |
Not-so- Surprisingly though, despite having identified his assailants, Hussain has been unable to coerce either the university authorities or the police into taking action against the militants. Rumours abound that PU officials are weighing down on Hussain into reconciling with the abductors instead of getting them arrested. Reportedly, strings are being pulled to resolve the issue 'amicably'. Despite having registered a first information report, and that too after hesitant local police officers were made to do so by an additional sessions judge, no investigations have taken place. Sources said that the police had been stopped from inspecting the crime scene.
| "Let's just be friends about this, eh?" |
The FIR, which was lodged in Old Anarkali Police Station by the victim's father, identifies two students, Zafarullah Majid (25) and Hafiz Abdullah (30), as the main culprits. Reportedly, the accused students had been pressing Hussain into abandoning his faith and joining their cause. After failing to convince him through propaganda, he had been marked wajibul qatal. Zafarullah had threatened Hussain before, but the university authorities had suspended him and had hushed up the matter. The student, in his application to the press, said that he was dissatisfied with the steps taken by the university administration to investigate the case and protect him. On the contrary, rather than being scared, the abductors are distributing letters warning everyone who stood beside Hussain about "dangerous consequences".
| "Stand next to this guy and you're going to explode right with him!" |
Some college teachers, who asked not to be named, said that a student organisation might be involved in the fiasco. They said that the college council had heard the victim's statement and had recommended action against the assailants. However, they said, the teachers who had demanded punishments for the kidnappers had been receiving anonymous threats 'advising' them to back off. They claimed that the student organisation was being backed by sympathisers in the faculty and administration. Dr Jamshaid, the college principal, told Daily Times that three or four meetings had been called by the college council regarding the kidnapping. He said that despite efforts, the names of the two students mentioned in the FIR had not been presented before the council. He said that he had been told that Hussain had either withdrawn the application or was about to.
The principal said that the issue was being treated very carefully and confirmed the anonymous threats to students and teachers. However, he alleged that certain elements were exploiting the case to damage his position. |