Operation demanded against protesting students
Quaid-i-Azam University,Islamabad. PHOTO: fb.com/Quaid
The Academic Staff Association of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) has appealed to the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration to conduct a ‘clean-up’ operation against the protesting students.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the association said that the university administration has fulfilled all genuine demands of the students, including a meaningful reduction in fee and other charges, however, some elements were still bent on holding the university hostage and refused to accept the September 29 agreement brokered by the Islamabad deputy commissioner.
“Under the circumstances, the QAU Academic Staff Association appeals to the government and all stakeholders in the higher education sector to come forward and announce the resumption of the normal functioning of the university,” it said.
Read QAU students protest against fee hike
The statement urged the ICT administration to also carry out a clean-up operation at hostels and in surrounding areas where the violent protesters were believed to be hiding and located. “All illegal residents of the QAU hostels need to be expelled, and the campus is secured. Only then can the university hope to resume normal functioning,” it said.
The staff association urged the ICT administration to take action against those students facing cases for causing a disturbance on the QAU campus. “Failure to take the matter seriously will certainly compel faculty to return to work and jeopardise the academic prospects of thousands of students.
“The QAU administration and faculty are of the view that there can be no question of a reversal of disciplinary actions or indemnification of past offences on part of current or former students engaged in the recent protests.
The sense of security that is the right of faculty, students and staff has been shattered by the attacks on senior scholars and security personnel and the damage done to the server room of the computer networking cell,” the statement said.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2021.