Imran falls to police after students squabble
Bureau Report

LAHORE—Events unfolded with a confusing pace today for Chairman PTI Imran Khan who was initially designated to march into Punjab University from Barket Market, Garden Town.
However, due to extremely heavy police contingents placed along all the entry points of Pakistan’s largest university, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf quietly entered the campus with a few workers earlier in the morning. By 10 pm however, things began to go wrong.Jamaat-e-Islami’s student wing, Islami Jamiat-e-Tuleba (IJT) had sent its own students carrying sticks to ward off any attempt by PTI workers to lead the students with Imran Khan.
Jamaat-e-Islami student leaders threatened PTI leaders and told them to ‘get out’ as the campus was no place for anyone to practice politics. It must be noted that Mr. Khan was invited to the Lahore Campus by many student bodies and after initial resistance the IJT has also assured to welcome him.
However, while a large group of PTI workers waited for the Chairman to come out of the university and address them, it was reported that he tried to give a brief address to the students of the university. At this juncture, the IJT student activists beat up PTI workers, separated them from Chairman Khan and locked Khan in a room, claiming it was for his own protection.
Chairman Khan was then taken out of the campus in a Punjab University van by his kidnappers and as it turns out handed over for arrest to the police, from where within police custody , Imran Khan told AFP that he was trying to start a student movement against emergency rule when he was arrested on Wednesday after more than a week in hiding. “I came to the university to lead a rally of students against the dictator Musharaf and his illegal actions,” Khan said.
“I would have presented myself for arrest in full public view but my goal was to set in motion a student movement.” Khan spoke to AFP by telephone shortly after he was detained while trying to lead a rally at Lahore’s Punjab University.
He said he was betrayed by a group of students. “The majority of the students were with me there but a group of them from Islami-Jamiat-Tuliba collaborated with the administration and police,” Khan said. “They took me into the office and then forced me out into a van. They did not allow me to be arrested publicly.” He added: “I have chieved my purpose. I have started the student movement, I have set the tone for it.” PTI International coordinator and Member of Central Executive Ali Zaidi said that “IJT hijacked the Protest. Even though the PTI support was overwhelming we did not want to create a law and order situation.
Jamaat Islami has strongly condemned the manhandling and arrest of Pakistan Tehrik Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan by students’ union and administration at Punjab University.
According to a statement issued by JI media cell Wednesday, JI secretary general Syed Munawar Hassan, Naib Ameer and other office bearers who are also former presidents of Punjab university students union including Liaqat Baloch, Hafiz Idrees, Farid Paracha and Amir ul Azim termed the incident as highly unfortunate and a conspiracy against the unity of the opposition parties.
They said the incident is a stigma on the face of Punjab University students regarding their political history of struggles for restoration of constitution, democracy and civil liberties.