The incidents of mugging, mobile and purse snatching, besides theft in the vicinity of Karachi University (KU) have increased manifold in recent days, vexing the students, teachers and staffers. The KU administration has failed to provide security to students and teachers of the varsity, despite receiving numerous complaints from a considerable number of students, teachers and other staff members.
Sources said in recent days many students, teachers and other staff members were deprived of their valuables like mobile phone, motorbike and cash in broad daylight. Motorbikes' theft has become routine matter as scores of students have lost their bikes during last several months. They said that many hooligans and anti social elements operating in the surroundings of the KU not only misbehaved with female students especially of evening programme but also snatched mobile phones and other valuables from them.
Recently, three female students of the university left for their home around 9:00 pm after attending classes. When they were crossing the pedestrian bridge just in front of the main gate of the university, they were deprived of their cell phones by a dacoit on gunpoint.
The affected students deplored that the university administration is least bothered about the problems of students. The expressed dissatisfaction over the security arrangements in and around the university. They said that the university shuttle service had been suspended for the last one month and they were compelled to go home in public transport.
The pedestrian bridge recently constructed in front of the Silver Jubilee Gate has become centre of criminal activities. Mobile snatchers and anti social elements are depriving students especially female students of their mobiles and other valuables, besides misbehaving with them. Recently, some armed men barged into the house of chairman, KU Admission Committee and teacher of Agriculture Department Saleem Shahzad, located in the premises of campus, and decamped with valuables of worth millions of rupees. The incident took place on July 11, but the culprits could not be apprehended yet.
Some 144 security guards have been deployed in the campus and staff town. Out them six are women while six are about to retire. These guards lack even appropriate security equipment. Though a competent and qualified man has been appointed as Security Officer, but, sources said, other appointment have been made in violation of merit and on recommendation.
On the other hand there is no surveillance system in the varsity. There is no bar on entry of unconcerned person or outsider at the gates. Leaders of KU students organisations Abdul Muqtadir Ghazi and Farooq Abdullah deplored over the unsatisfactory security arrangements in the university.
They demanded the administration to step up security measures and curb criminal activities in the premises of the university. Security Advisor Iftikhar told Business Recorder that some outlawed groups had written objectionable slogans against their rival groups which were removed by the administration immediately.
He said they were facing shortage of security guards to safeguard the premises of the university from anti-social elements due to which they failed to develop a security system. Iftikhar said the process to hire more security is underway, adding that at present there are 130 security guards manned at the gates and departments of varsity. "Some 100 more security guards are needed in this regard," he added. High-power surveillance system would be installed in university in near future in order to avert any subversive incident, he informed.