As I was siitting in the University Campus’s Computer Internet Serving Center, checking my emails and chatting with friends, I was disturbed by a shrill noise coming from an argument between a veiled student and the manager of the Computer Center that serves internet facility at pre-paid rates. On listening carefully, although I have a bit of trouble in understanding the local language properly i.e., Pushto that got translated to me through my friend Zia-Ur-Rehman, astonished me and will probably astonish anyone reading this post.
Here’s the conversation:
Girl: My male friend (probably her brother because in this conservative society one can’t imagine veiled ladies with boy friends) and I would like to sit together and use the same computer because my friend has got the user ID and the data in USB that we would like to share.
Manager: You are not allowed to sit here together at all. People will start talking about you and it’s a great shame for us. Therefore, you should move out of the computer center and use another net cafe.
Girl: But our work is very urgent and we need to do it immediately here now.
Manager: Ok the boy may use the net and you keep waiting here.
Girl: No, but I want to use it and he is going to assist me.
Manager: Ok, then you (the boy) give her your ID and USB so that she may move onto the girl’s section to use the net service till then you rather wait here.
After this conversation, my friend and I put forth our queries to the manager as to what makes you prohibit them from sitting together in the computer center? We were told that it’s in the rules and regulations of University that boys and girls are not allowed to sit toghether in the computer center for the mere usage of Internet Service. He also cited some excuse that if it’s not done so, different Student Political/ Religious party activists may object to it and cause disturbance.
This incident occured before my eyes a few seconds ago and I decided to put it here. I’m still sitting in the same Computer Center at the University of Peshawar. The point that bothers me is what’s wrong in using internet together from the same computer by two classfellows? or Is it simply a wave of radicalization that tries to engulf universitites. A couple of weeks ago a friend Mr. Karim Khan had made a post on “Veils in Malakand University”, Isn’t it linked to the same radical group that wish to overtake the educational institutions in Pakistan?