GUJRAT:
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s visit to Gujrat University sparked mixed reactions on Monday, with several students terming the event “artificial” and strictly controlled.
The ceremony, organized for over 3,000 students from Sialkot, Narowal and Gujrat districts of Gujranwala Division, was aimed at marking the distribution of laptops and scholarships. However, according to the students, the Prime Minister left without personally handing over the laptops and scholarships to the participants.
Sources said the event remained under the complete control of the prime minister’s team, led by provincial education minister Rana Sikandar Hayat.
The university administration was largely sidelined during the process.
Vice-Chancellor Dr Zahoorul Haq was not allowed to deliver welcome remarks, present a commemorative shield or read the traditional thank-you speech. Only the provincial Minister of Education and the Prime Minister addressed the meeting.
Although Gujrat University was formally designated as host, several members of the university union and notable figures from the region were reportedly not invited, reportedly for security reasons.
Pakistan Muslim League (N) leaders in the division, including division president Chaudhry Abid Raza and district president Nawabzada Tahirul Mulk, declined to attend after learning that lawmakers from the rival Pakistan Muslim League (Q) would be present.
According to university sources, the prime minister’s team eliminated dozens of names proposed by the administration to participate for security clearance reasons. University officials said they were only given responsibility for providing the venue and logistical support.
During her speech, the Prime Minister outlined her government’s plans for the development of students and youth.
At one point, video clips related to former Prime Minister Imran Khan and past comments on Begum Kulsoom Nawaz’s illness were played on the venue’s screens, apparently to counter the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s narrative. However, students reacted enthusiastically to Imran Khan’s appearance on the screen, prompting organizers to remove the images soon after.
Some students criticized the arrangements, saying it would have been better for the vice-chancellor to hold separate ceremonies at universities and distribute laptops and scholarships directly, rather than organizing what they described as a “staged” event.
“Future nation builders deserve respect,” one student commented.
University spokesperson Dr Yousaf told The Express that the institution had no authority over invitations or program management.
“We were only responsible for arranging and providing the venue. Neither the vice-chancellor nor the registrar had control over the arrangements from start to finish,” he said.
Strict security measures were implemented during the visit. Instead of the traditional flower petal reception, the path from the helipad to the event venue was decorated with flowers.
The Prime Minister stayed for about an hour before departing by helicopter.
