After 11-day closure: Hazara University to reopen on Monday

MANSEHRA: After remaining closed for nearly 11 consecutive days, the Hazara University (HU) is set to resume its academic activities from Monday November 14, official sources said on Friday.

The HU was closed following a firing incident on the evening of November 2, when two students Tayab Khan and Salman Khan of the Sociology department were gunned down and another, Sajjad, was injured in an armed attack by a fellow student after attempts to patch up differences in a local Jirga failed.

Students of the university had subsequently gone on a rampage and blocked the Karakoram Highway till 5 am on November 3 and damaged 12 vehicles in protest.

At a meeting held at the office of HU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Idrees on Friday, it was decided that in line with directions from the provincial government, the varsity would resume academic activities from Monday.

The officials further decided that, to make up for the time wasted in the 11 days the varsity was closed, teachers would take extra classes so that students can complete their courses.

The meeting, which was also attended by professors, deans and administrative heads, demanded that the government should help fund hostel facilities for teachers and students inside the HU so that they can remain free from the influence of outside events.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th, 2016.