Handcuffing of university professors ‘against Islamic principles’

Islamabad: Almost one week after the handcuffing of a former Vice Chancellor and four retired officials of Punjab University by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Chairman of Pakistan’s Islamic Ideological Council (IIC), a top body entrusted with interpreting Islamic laws and jurisprudence, has condemned the incident saying it is un-Islamic and against principle of justice.

IIC Chairman Dr Qibla Ayaz, while condemning the October 12 incident, has called for action against the Director General of the NAB and other officials for the inhuman, disrespectful treatment meted out to the senior teachers and registration of case against them.

Chairman Islamic Ideological Council particularly mentioned a vice-chancellor of the Sargodha University Dr Akram Chaudhry who was also among the handcuffed professors produced in the court saying he was an upright man and had remained associate with the Islamic Ideological Council as subject specialist.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar had not only taken suo motu notice of the incident on the very next day of the incident but also summoned the Director General of NAB, Saleem Shahzad, for producing ex-VC Dr Mujahid Kamran of Punjab University’s senior professors in handcuffs before a local magistrate for remand.

DG NAB had not only apologised to the court for the incident but also apologised to the professors who were present in the Lahore registry of the Supreme Court for the NAB officials’ insulting behaviour.

Dr Qibla Ayaz’s remarks have come at a time when the matter stood already disposed of by the Chief Justice with a warning to NAB.

Islamic Ideological Council’s Chairman’s Friday statement to revive a dead issue has sparked a debate on social media showing his ignorance.

A social media user, while expressing his surprise at a belated response by the IIC chairman, remarked how Chairman of the IIC is ignorant to the extent that he does not know an important hearing by Supreme Court Chief Justice that was widely covered by local and even international media. “Our Chief Justice has already taken a suo motu and disposed of the matter taking the NAB DG and other officials to task for that”.

Another critic of the IIC Chairman’s statement said if it was really necessary for the chairman of a toothless council to issue statement when the job has already been done well by top judge of the country.

The official spokesperson of the IIC when contacted said in fact the Chairman was out of the country during last week and only returned yesterday and issued the statement when the matter was brought to his notice.