ICTA reluctant to use force against students
Rusticated protesters keep road leading to QAU closed
Rusticated protesters keep road leading to QAU closed. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Despite having apparently sorted a conflict with rusticated students, the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) remained closed for a sixth consecutive day on Monday as the students kept a main road to the campus shut pending their restoration.
While the varsity urged the capital’s administration to end the blockade by using available means, officials have been reluctant to use force.
The student strike, which began last Wednesday, kept all kinds of academic activities at the varsity suspended on Monday.
Several rounds of negotiations have been held between the protesting students, the university management, and the district administration, but none have yielded any result so far.
The students, eight of whom were expelled while 18 others were rusticated on disciplinary grounds for their involvement in on-campus clashes between two student groups in May, demand the immediate withdrawal of their rustication and expulsion orders.
However the varsity’s VC continues to maintain that restoring the students, a decision which was ratified by the syndicate of the varsity, was not in his hands.
Meanwhile, QAU Registrar Dr Imtiazuddin has said that the varsity has accepted all demands of the protesting students which relate to the increase in the number of hostels and buses. However, he insisted that the power to undo rustication orders rests with the varsity’s syndicate, which is expected to meet early next month.
The university management is also keen to restore academic activities as soon as possible and has urged the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) to help in this regard. “We do not want to baton charge or resort to [tear gas] shelling. Instead, we want the issue to be resolved amicably,” a senior ICT administration official told The Express Tribune on Monday.
He added while many of the students rusticated were involved in violent clashes at the campus, some of the students were expelled on minor issues and can be restored by the university management. The students who were penalized had also been booked by the Islamabad Police for their role in campus violence — including firing — which had left several people injured.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 10th, 2017.
Despite having apparently sorted a conflict with rusticated students, the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) remained closed for a sixth consecutive day on Monday as the students kept a main road to the campus shut pending their restoration.
While the varsity urged the capital’s administration to end the blockade by using available means, officials have been reluctant to use force.
The student strike, which began last Wednesday, kept all kinds of academic activities at the varsity suspended on Monday.
Several rounds of negotiations have been held between the protesting students, the university management, and the district administration, but none have yielded any result so far.
The students, eight of whom were expelled while 18 others were rusticated on disciplinary grounds for their involvement in on-campus clashes between two student groups in May, demand the immediate withdrawal of their rustication and expulsion orders.
However the varsity’s VC continues to maintain that restoring the students, a decision which was ratified by the syndicate of the varsity, was not in his hands.
Meanwhile, QAU Registrar Dr Imtiazuddin has said that the varsity has accepted all demands of the protesting students which relate to the increase in the number of hostels and buses. However, he insisted that the power to undo rustication orders rests with the varsity’s syndicate, which is expected to meet early next month.
The university management is also keen to restore academic activities as soon as possible and has urged the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) to help in this regard. “We do not want to baton charge or resort to [tear gas] shelling. Instead, we want the issue to be resolved amicably,” a senior ICT administration official told The Express Tribune on Monday.
He added while many of the students rusticated were involved in violent clashes at the campus, some of the students were expelled on minor issues and can be restored by the university management. The students who were penalized had also been booked by the Islamabad Police for their role in campus violence — including firing — which had left several people injured.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 10th, 2017.