KU choked by protests

Students, teachers stage parallel protests over exam boycott, fee hikes, administrative crisis

KARACHI:

Protest tensions gripped University of Karachi on Monday as students, faculty and employees took to the streets in separate but overlapping demonstrations over cancelled examinations, rising fees and a deepening financial and administrative crisis at the institution.

The protests were organised by Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba and a student alliance, who staged a demonstration and later marched from Terminal Point to Pharmacy Chowk, raising slogans against university policies and repeated academic disruptions.

Participants accused the administration of "turning education into a joke," saying students who travel long distances and prepare diligently are repeatedly confronted with postponed or boycotted examinations.

They said such uncertainty was causing severe mental stress and academic loss, adding that despite heavy fees, basic facilities on campus remain inadequate. Protesters also blamed ongoing disputes between faculty and administration for directly harming students' academic progress, urging both sides to resolve their issues urgently.

Separately, on the 25th day of an ongoing protest movement at the university of Karachi, a large number of teachers, officers, employees and students gathered outside the Administration Block for a strong demonstration and march.

The participants raised slogans against financial mismanagement, administrative inefficiency and what they described as the "collapse of the academic environment" at the institution. Speakers alleged that issues including house ceiling, arrears, evening programme dues, examination payments, leave encashment, supervisor fees and retired employees' dues have been pending for a long time. They accused the administration of delaying tactics, pressure politics and a lack of seriousness in resolving long-standing financial disputes.

The protesters expressed deep concern that a premier educational institution has been pushed to a point where all stakeholders - teachers, staff and students - are forced onto the streets, while authorities continue to avoid meaningful action.