LAHORE: The Punjab University (PU) has suspended a student for two semesters for carrying a weapon on campus.

The varsity administration however spared two other students for the same offence. Last month, a pistol each was recovered from two students Ilays and Lateef of the Institute of Education and Research and Shams Bhatti of the Institute of Communication Studies during their quarrel with fellow students on campus.

`We have suspended Shams Bhatti for two semesters and will take action against the other two students in question,` PU spokesman Khurram told Dawn.

He said the administration had adopted strict security measures and would not allow anyone to take law into their hands.

A varsity official questioned the administration`s alleged lenient action against those carryingweapons on campus.

`Instead of expelling such students, the administration has showed lenient attitude towards them which will not set a good precedent,` he said.

The administration had also shown a soft corner for those involved in the March 21 clash between two students groups that lef t 10 injured. None of those identihed in the clash had been expelled as yet.

ASA: Punjab University Academic Staff Association President Javed Sami and Secretary Iftikhar Ahmed have written a letter to the chief minister and governor requesting them on behalf of the faculty not to consider Dr Mujahid Kamran for the slot of PU vice chancellor (VC).

`The previous, VC Dr Mujahid Kamran, is not acceptable to the teaching community because of his involvement in victimising teachers,` the letter stated and also pointed out his `anti-merit`steps and a pending inquiry against him in the National Accountability Bureau regarding illegal appointments.

The ASA president and secretary said teachers and students would resist the reinstatement of Dr Kamran.

On the other hand, some other members of ASA and the varsity Senate demanded the chief minister appoint Dr Kamran as the VC to restore peace and academic culture on campus since he had vast administrative experience and topped the list of candidates on merit.

Addressing a press conference, ASA Treasurer Dr Azhar Naeem, executive members Naeemullah Khan and Dr Ayub Afridi said that after the appointment of Dr Zafar Mueen Nasir, PU had `collapsed academically` because of administrative failure.

They claime d that the university had stopped progressing academically because of wrong policies and practices of Prof Nasir.