Lahore: GCU follows KC in banning jeans

[Naveed Yaseen]

* GCU registrar says ban a combination of security measures, college rules
* DCO says ban GCU’s internal decision, govt has issued no such instruction

By Afnan Khan

LAHORE: After a ban on wearing jeans at the Kinnaird College (KC), the Government College University (GCU) has also prohibited its students from wearing jeans and other ‘inappropriate’ dresses as part of the security measures taken on the directives issued by the government and other law enforcement agencies.

The GCU has set up a notice board near the university’s main gate to inform the students of the new rule. The university, being a historic institution from where graduated legendary scholars like Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Ashfaq Ahmed, and others have graduated, is the second institution in the city to impose a ban on jeans on university premises.

Precautionary measures: GCU Registrar Faisal Khursheed told Daily Times the security measures were taken on the government’s directives and were aimed at ensuring the security of the students and the faculty. He said the university was not facing any direct terrorist threat and the measures taken were only precautionary. When questioned whether the dress code had any connection with security, the registrar said the restriction imposed on the dress code was a combination of security measures taken and the college’s rules as mentioned in the prospectuses issued at the time of admission.

Khursheed said it was an independent decision of the university administration and was not a result of the ban imposed on jeans at KC. He also said the administration had only banned the female students from wearing jeans.

The notice posted on the college wall stated: “It is prohibited to enter the university premises if dressed in jeans, t-shirts or any other inappropriate dress. The students and faculty would have to show their university cards and all visitors are requested to submit their ID cards before entering the university.” The notice also stated that entrance into the university was conditional with identification of the person due to security and disciplinary reasons. It said the instructions came directly from the GCU vice chancellor.

Government’s instructions: District Coordination Officer (DCO) Sajjad Bhutta told Daily Times the government had instructed educational institutions to implement general security measures, including an increase in the number of guards and ban on the entry of unidentified people. He said the government had not given any instructions to impose a ban on jeans, adding that it was an internal decision of the management of these institutions.

Previously, Home Secretary Nadeem Hassan Asif held a meeting with secretaries of higher education and district government officials, and issued detailed security instructions.

Concerned authorities later informed the media that the meeting was held to improve the security at educational institutions and there was no real terror threat against any institution. However, the meeting was held after reports about the possibility of a terrorist attack at co-educational institutions of the city. The reports sent shockwaves across the country as several institutions closed down in Islamabad until they had taken the required security measures.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg13_1