CONTINUOUS violence by politically backed student organisations, which were officially banned by the Supreme Court and the federal government, are becoming an increasing challenge for the government. The government will have to do more than condemn political elements in university campuses with words. Some recent examples of student hooliganism and violence were witnessed by the public despite fresh rhetoric by President General Pervez Musharraf, Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Perviaz Elahi and Punjab governor Lt Gen (r) Khaild Maqbool during the recent 'Punjab Student Convention'. The latest violence occurred in front of the Lahore Press Club, where the Imamia Students Organisation (ISO), a religious students' platform, assaulted many journalists and pelted stones inside the club injuring many other journalists. A police squad was present when the incident took place but did not intervene. The ISO blocked the road and did not allow a senior journalist to enter the club, at the start of their protest against the killing of a religious scholar in Gilgit.In another incident, the Muttahida Talaba Mahaz (United Front of Students), an alliance of more than eight political and religious student organisations, pelted stones at a peaceful demonstration by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) for People's Rights being held in front of Lahore Press Club. The JAC was peacefully protesting against the idea of adding a religion column in the new passports. The alliance, which was conducting a seminar against government policies inside the club, came out and threw stones at the protestors.
The Islami Jamiat Talaba arranged a grand reception to honour new admissions at the PU. The PU administration supported the reception and the campus student advisor was the key figure in making the whole event successful. People will lose their trust in the government if it does not stop politically motivated violence by youth disguised as 'enlightened and educated' students belonging to 'peace-loving' organisations, which are financially and logistically backed by political parties. Now is the time to save the future of such youths and the government has to make the right decisions and tackle these elements effectively.