BNP-M, BSO stage rally in support of students

Participants held placards inscribed with slogans against incumbent Balochistan govt

QUETTA:

Local officer bearers and workers of Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) and Baloch Students Organization Pajjar (BSO-Pajjar) staged a protest rally in Dalbandin against the detention of protesting students by the Quetta Police, followed by a demonstration outside the Dalbandin Press Club.

The participants were holding placards inscribed with slogans against the incumbent provincial government, Quetta Police and higher education commission’s decision of conducting online classes in the province.

BNP-M general secretary Sanaullah Baloch, Ahmed Yar Sumalani, Mustafa Kamal, Iqbal Baloch, Waqar Reki, BSO-Pajjar President Waseem Hoth, Rashid Hamraz Baloch and others condemned the arrest of female students while addressing the demonstration, terming it against Baloch traditions.

The speakers criticised the use of force to handle a peaceful protest conducted by students who had been demanding proper internet services and other facilities for the sake of online classes.

They questioned the fate of online classes in a province like Balochistan, where, according to them, almost eight districts are deprived of internet services, electricity is not available in several towns and prolonged load shedding is prevalent in all the areas. “HEC did not seem to be serious in addressing the burning issue of Balochistan related to online classes which has been creating hurdles and mental anguish for students living in far-flung towns,” they said, urging authorities to postpone the ongoing online classes in Balochistan.