Punjab University Town-III Issue: Victims Accuse Joint Action Committee of Tactics to Obstruct Probe

Lahore (Pakistan News Online) The victims of Punjab University’s Town-III housing scheme have accused the Joint Action Committee of creating hurdles in the investigations launched by the university administration into alleged irregularities.

According to the victims, as preparations began to investigate alleged irregularities and take action against those responsible, certain individuals started creating obstacles and allegedly attempting to harass and frustrate the affected people. The victims claim that the Joint Action Committee was formed for the same purpose.

The victims say that as facts related to the Town-III project are beginning to emerge, their voice is gaining strength and calls for investigation and accountability are growing. They allege that the unrest and noise in certain circles have intensified as the alleged responsible individuals face increasing scrutiny.

The victims maintain that the Town-III issue cannot be suppressed or forgotten, nor can attention be diverted by creating an artificial crisis.

The Town-III project is being described as one of the most serious financial and administrative controversies in Punjab University’s history. The matter involves thousands of affected teachers, employees and their families, their life savings and their trust in the institution.

Despite the passage of decades, the affected people have still not received their plots, while several questions regarding the use of billions of rupees remain unanswered.

The victims have raised questions about who is responsible for bringing the project to its current state, where billions of rupees were spent, why the affected people were denied justice and who bears the administrative, legal and financial responsibility.

The victims say they want justice, not noise; answers, not slogans; and accountability, not new tactics to divert attention.

They have demanded that the facts surrounding Town-III be brought to light, justice be provided to the victims and, if billions of rupees in alleged irregularities are established, those responsible should be identified and dealt with according to law.

What is the Joint Action Committee?

On July 17, various Punjab University associations jointly formed the Joint Action Committee.

Professor Dr. Sardar Asghar Iqbal was named chairman, Chaudhry Basharat Mahmood president, Tayyab Ejaz Khan secretary general and Professor Dr. Kamran Abid convener.

The vice chairpersons include Professor Dr. Muqit Javed Bhatti, Chaudhry Gulfam Nasir, Dr. Aslam Hayat and Rana Intikhab Alam.

The media committee includes Professor Dr. Abdul Rehman Niazi, Professor Dr. Kamran Mirza, Dr. Majid Ali, Tanveer Awan, Hamad Butt and Azhar Iqbal Baloch.

The committee leaders have demanded an immediate end to all alleged retaliatory actions, prompt resolution of employees’ and teachers’ issues, an end to discriminatory treatment and the restoration of transparency, merit and the rule of law at the institution.

They warned that if the administration did not change its approach, a well-organized and decisive protest movement would be launched across the university.

The Joint Action Committee also announced that a press conference previously announced by ASA would now be held as a joint press conference of the committee.

The conference will present a detailed position on alleged administrative and financial irregularities, serious issues facing the university and other important matters.

The committee said that if its demands were not accepted, the future course of action would include protests, sit-ins, pen-down strikes, class boycotts and other democratic, legal and protest measures.

Punjab University Administration’s Response

A spokesperson for Punjab University rejected the allegations and said the Joint Action Committee was, in fact, a “corruption protection committee.”

The spokesperson claimed that inquiries into corruption and other allegations against key figures associated with the Joint Action Committee were already underway.

According to the spokesperson, the committee’s underlying demand was to halt these inquiries.

The spokesperson further alleged that groups associated with the Joint Action Committee had previously pushed the university into financial and administrative crises.

The Punjab University administration said it would continue the legal inquiries without succumbing to pressure from the Joint Action Committee.