QAU remains closed for second day

Protesters vow to continue strike until expelled students are restored

ISLAMABAD: The Quaid-i-Azam University remained closed for the second day after students continued their protest over the expulsions of their colleagues.

“The expelled students must be restored, otherwise, the university will remain closed,” warned the protesting students.

The university administration had expelled some students for their alleged involvement in a scuffle between two students associations in the varsity.

The protesting students also asked the varsity’s management to withdraw a fee hike.

They also complained that the varsity hostel lacks facilities and that they are provided poor meals. They also demanded to that an inquiry report into the alleged corruption of the Quaid-i-Azam University vice-chancellor should be made public.

Magistrate, varsity admin in talks

Meanwhile, officials said that the Islamabad district magistrate and the university’s management were trying to resolve the matter amicably.

A large contingent of police has also been deployed at the university on the request of the management to avoid any untoward incident.

Earlier in the week, the vice-chancellor, three deans, the registrar, and the chair of the university’s discipline committee met with students to resolve their issues.

“The students had a number of relatively minor demands, such as improving the cafeteria, purchasing more buses,” read a statement issued by QAU.

“However, their principal demand was to reverse penalties on several students for engaging in a fight a few months ago,” it added.

In May, a number of students representing two ethnic councils had engaged in a fierce confrontation, which left several students injured. Subsequent police action saw over two dozen students arrested.

After the varsity’s disciplinary committee completed its probe, eight students were expelled, and a number of them were handed financial penalties.

On Tuesday, the administration told the students that they did not have the authority to reverse the punishments. However, the protesting students were told that the varsity was willing to place their concerns before the university’s syndicate.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2017.