The Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT) celebrates its 73rd Foundation Day, with its supporters taking to Twitter to express their appreciation of the 'services' it has made for upholding religious values in educational institutions.
A trend celebrating '72 years of glory' trended on Pakistani Twitter.
https://twitter.com/AmirNagra/status/1209082206058164224?s=20
People also appreciated the 'democratic' nature of the organisation, and how elections are held every year to elect new leadership.
https://twitter.com/hafizsaadriaz/status/1209061796818116609?s=20
But does the group's Foundation Day really merit celebration? Why glorify a group that has had a history of engaging in violence against fellow students and even teachers?
IJT students are known for getting in clashes with student groups on university campuses. In September, IJT activists violently beat Baloch students, leading to widespread condemnation and protests.
There have been instances of hooliganism by the group, especially in Punjab University, where the group exists in a large number. It frequently attacks people who don’t share their ideology. IJT has attacked girls and boys for sitting together, teachers who don’t share their views, and members of the Baloch and Pashtun ethnic groups.
The group has also been found to have links with terror outfits. In September 2013, police carried out a raid in Punjab University hostels and arrested one Al-Qaeda suspect. The suspect was accused of having links with IJT, which the student organisation denied. From the room of the suspect, a list of Islami Jamiat Talba members, jihadi literature, and combat equipment including a NATO jacket was found.
Two months later, a professor of Kashmir Studies was tortured by IJT members, who not only attacked him but threatened to kidnap his family. The professor had alleged, while talking to media, that IJT were playing the role of facilitator for militants. Following the incident, PU teachers had demanded that the group be declared a terrorist outfit.
National Action Plan (NAP) was launched in 2015, to crack down on proscribed organisations across the country. Through the plan, military courts were established to speed up terror trials, leaders of terror organisations were put on the fourth schedule, bank accounts of terror suspects were frozen.
However, none of the actions falling under the purview of the NAP were taken against the IJT, nor were any attempts made to declare it a banned organisation.
The group’s history of violence against students, teachers, student organisations are on record. Unfortunately, with the political backing it has from the Jamaat-e-Islami, it continues to engage in violence with impunity. Instead of trending hashtags celebrating the false 'glory' on its Foundation Day, IJT leaders would do well to introspect and act against violent elements in their ranks.
A trend celebrating '72 years of glory' trended on Pakistani Twitter.
https://twitter.com/AmirNagra/status/1209082206058164224?s=20
People also appreciated the 'democratic' nature of the organisation, and how elections are held every year to elect new leadership.
https://twitter.com/hafizsaadriaz/status/1209061796818116609?s=20
But does the group's Foundation Day really merit celebration? Why glorify a group that has had a history of engaging in violence against fellow students and even teachers?
IJT students are known for getting in clashes with student groups on university campuses. In September, IJT activists violently beat Baloch students, leading to widespread condemnation and protests.
There have been instances of hooliganism by the group, especially in Punjab University, where the group exists in a large number. It frequently attacks people who don’t share their ideology. IJT has attacked girls and boys for sitting together, teachers who don’t share their views, and members of the Baloch and Pashtun ethnic groups.
The group has also been found to have links with terror outfits. In September 2013, police carried out a raid in Punjab University hostels and arrested one Al-Qaeda suspect. The suspect was accused of having links with IJT, which the student organisation denied. From the room of the suspect, a list of Islami Jamiat Talba members, jihadi literature, and combat equipment including a NATO jacket was found.
Two months later, a professor of Kashmir Studies was tortured by IJT members, who not only attacked him but threatened to kidnap his family. The professor had alleged, while talking to media, that IJT were playing the role of facilitator for militants. Following the incident, PU teachers had demanded that the group be declared a terrorist outfit.
National Action Plan (NAP) was launched in 2015, to crack down on proscribed organisations across the country. Through the plan, military courts were established to speed up terror trials, leaders of terror organisations were put on the fourth schedule, bank accounts of terror suspects were frozen.
However, none of the actions falling under the purview of the NAP were taken against the IJT, nor were any attempts made to declare it a banned organisation.
The group’s history of violence against students, teachers, student organisations are on record. Unfortunately, with the political backing it has from the Jamaat-e-Islami, it continues to engage in violence with impunity. Instead of trending hashtags celebrating the false 'glory' on its Foundation Day, IJT leaders would do well to introspect and act against violent elements in their ranks.