Students continue protest against varsity harassment

Demand severe punishment for elements involved in the crime

QUETTA: Student organisations continued to protest on the 9th consecutive day against the harassment of students at the University of Balochistan (UoB), demanding severe punishment for the elements involved in the crime.

The student organisations decided to launch an extended protest movement over the harassment scandal. They staged a demonstration outside UoB gate and chanted slogans against the varsity’s administration, pledging to not remain silent despite the removal of the vice-chancellor which they believe was done to hide the incident.

The protesters vowed to continue demonstrations until the real facts are brought to the public. They warned of launching a broadside if a fair inquiry into the matter is not initiated. “We will not stay silent at any cost since it is a very sensitive matter,” they said.

The student organisations asserted that they will not tolerate the violation of Baloch and Pashtun traditions through such acts.

They added that students of UoB in the name of dropout, hostels allotment and bogus deployment were blackmailed through the installations of secret cameras and their videos were recorded.

Senate human rights panel takes up Balochistan University harassment case

The protesters urged the government to fairly investigate the matter and punish the culprits involved in the crime.

Earlier, Vice Chancellor of University of Balochistan Dr Javid Iqbal, stepped down on Sunday after being accused of involvement in a scandal related to harassment of students at the province’s biggest varsity.

According to a notification issued by the Balochistan governor’s office, Dr Iqbal decided to step down to let the FIA conduct a fair inquiry into the recent cases of harassment at the varsity.

On Saturday, Fareed Achakzai, a professor, had claimed that the vice-chancellor was fired for harassing foreign students in 1992.

Dr Iqbal, on the other hand, has rejected these accusations. “These allegations are based on lies,” he said. “Achakzai is not even a professor. He is a lecturer but claims to be a professor. He has been involved in appointing people illegally.”

The university and Dr Iqbal have been receiving widespread criticism after students claimed that CCTV footage was being used by the administration to blackmail female students for sexual favours.

Along with the CCTV cameras on campus, the students have said they were being monitored through additional cameras and microphones placed in washrooms and smoking areas.

The university’s professors and staff members confirmed to the media that they have seen these ‘secret cameras’.

The MPAs and the high court have ordered an investigation.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2019.