LAHORE: (Saturday, May 10): Punjab University administration has declared the announcement of organizing a three day book fair by a group of students and external elements as “illegal and immoral”. The administration has made it clear to the publishers and book sellers that their participation in this book fair or any type of cooperation with students group will be considered as illegal action.

According to decision taken by PU syndicate (2005) and following it by deans committee (2007), no group of students can initiate any activity without taking prior permission from the vice-chancellor. The administration informed here respective representatives from various media organizations that application submitted with the vice-chancellor office to seek permission in this regard is unnamed and unsigned.

There is no group of the students exist in PU by the name of ‘Tulba Taqreebat Committee’ as mentioned in the application. The holding of book fair will effect negatively and badly the academic peace and campus environment. If university administration allows this particular group of students to hold book fair, the administration would not be in a position to stop other groups of student which have appeared recently after the announcement of lifting ban on student unions.

PU would not be responsible of the consequences if publishers and book sellers provides any funds and make any deal in this regard with the students group. PU has already asked the provincial government to provide cooperation to stop this illegal activity on its premises and it hoped that all-out cooperation will be extended by the government to maintain academic peace in PU campuses.

The administration warned the group of students, their illegal companions and external elements that it will take disciplinary action in case of violation of the syndicate and deans committee’s decisions.