PU Mushaira, IJT’s “moral inspection” causes trouble

The concluding mushaira of International Punjabi Sufi Conference, at Punjab University Oriental College was disrupted by the Islami Jamiat-e-Talba’s activist when they probed the attendants for mixing up with female students.

The Mushaira was organized by the Department of Punjabi on March 14 as the concluding ceremony of International Sufi Conference and was held at the old campus of PU; Vice Chancellor PU Dr. Mujahid Kamran, faculty members and students of all departments attended the mushaira. According to sources during and after the mushaira IJT activists stopped students who came to attend the mushaira with their female class mates. The IJTians checked the student ID cards and forced the students to stay away from “immoral gathering with girls.”
“We thought that we were interrogated as if we had done some heinous crime, I was with my classmates when the IJT hooligans threatened me for walking my female classmate to the mushaira.” A student on the condition of anonymity told Laaltain. Many other students were complaining for being humiliated and harassed in front of their friends and the guests from India.

“It is necessary for the sanctity or moral values and to prevent our honor from any possible moral corruption; it is our job to protect our culture and religion” IJT sources responded on the incident.

A student Aslam Ali of communication studies also criticized the audience for taking mushaira as a “picnic”. “Mushaira is a tradition and has its modesties and protocols, but most of the students were hooting and passing comments, which really was disturbing.” A few students commented on the lineup of poets and appreciated the effort to conduct a Punjabi Mushaira. “Most of the renowned poets were not invited, but it was good to have poets from India and some new faces.” Anam spoke to Laaltain. “Most of the times we have Urdu poets but it was good to listen to our mother language” she added. Anwar Masood, Nashir Naqvi (India), Anwar Masood, Shahid Gul, Dr Younas Ahqar, Sarwat Mohi-ud-din, Majeed Khawar Malcy, Dr Abbad Nabeel, Adal Minhas, Bushra Khazeen, Tahir Abdal, Imran Naqvi, Shahzad Hussain, Sultan Kharvi, Azaz Ahmed Azar, Talib Jatooi, Baba Najmi, Sharif Anjum, Zulfiqar Zulfi, Manzoor Jugnu, Aqeel Shami, Gulzar Bukhari, Humayun Shahid and others presented their poetry.