LAHORE: A handbill widely distributed by the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) in the Punjab University denounced Punjab Governor Lt Gen (r) Khalid Maqbool and Punjab government’s policy to start music and drama courses at higher education institutions. The handbill, distributed after Friday prayers at the main PU mosque and allegedly representing PU students, effused determination to resist secularism and enlightened moderation in educational institutions and called for promoting Islamic ideology on campus. Handwritten posters also sprung up at different spots in the Punjab University saying, “Stop music, Stop drama in the university.” The IJT and the Muttahida Talaba Mahaz (MTM), an alliance of eight student organisations, have announced a campaign against music and against the governor from today (Saturday), and a referendum on all campuses on the subjects. On the other hand, Punjab Education Minister Mian Imran Masood said about the referendum that the government’s policies could not be stopped. He added that music and drama should be taught, and they were the essence of society.
Trying to demonstrate how ludicrous the protest was, he referred to police and army bands playing music everywhere, mostly so at weddings. He said there was no point interfering with the government and if some religious partiesÂ’ youth wings had reservations, they should ask their political wings to raise the issues in parliament. He added that there could be a referendum, but only with permission from the educational institutions. The pamphlet in Urdu, in bold font, asks questions of the governor and begins with IqbalÂ’s verse praying God to give direction to the misled.