Pakistan: From courts to colleges | ''Ban'' on juices made by Ahmadi-owned firm

Farooq Ahmed, the owner of several canteens at the Lahore High Court complex, said lawyers had told him that a judge had passed an order to ban Shezan products.

On a dhool's beat: Street dancing lawyers of Pakistan (File photo)

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By M Zulqernain | February 18, 2012

Lahore, Feb 18 (PTI) Days after a lawyers'' group banned juices made by an Ahmadi-owned firm from court complexes in Lahore, a "permanent ban" has been imposed on the drinks by Punjab University, the largest varsity of Pakistan.

Shezan fruit juices have banned in Punjab University, which has some 32,000 students. The Islami Jamiat Tulba, the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami has a strong presence on the campus.

Owners of canteens in the campus have stopped serving Shezan juices due to pressure from the students'' organisation, sources said.

A Punjab University spokesman told PTI: "We cannot force the canteen owners to stock a particular product or not as it is their prerogative."

Asked about the IJT''s influence in such a matter, he said during Vice-Chancellor Mujahid Kamran''s tenure, "we have stopped IJT from carrying out its political agenda".


Shandy Cola, a soft drink made by a firm whose owner is considered close to the Jamaat-e-Islami, is available in all canteens on the campus.

"IJT activists have forced us to stock Shandy Cola in place of Shezan drinks. A group of IJT activists inspects the canteens and hostels on a regular basis," said a canteen owner who spoke on condition of anonymity because of fears of the IJT.

Farooq Ahmed, the owner of several canteens at the Lahore High Court complex, said lawyers had told him that a judge had passed an order to ban Shezan products.

"I have been told by the lawyers' body to stop selling Shezan products, both juices and soft drinks," he said.

Mujahid Mansoori, a columnist and former teacher of Punjab University, said as long as there was a strong presence of the IJT on the campus, Shezan''s products could not be sold there.

"The Punjab University is not the only such educational institution in Punjab. Where ever the IJT has a stronghold, you will see similar things happening," he said.

Mansoori said when educated communities like lawyers could resort to such radical acts, then similar moves should be expect from "extremist elements".

The lawyers' "ban" on Shezan products triggered outrage across Pakistan. In the past, lawyers' groups had been condemned for showing their support for Mumtaz Qadri, the police guard who gunned down Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer last year for his demand for changes in Pakistan''s controversial blasphemy law.


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