Sit-in: Bahria University student vows to continue hunger strike

Demands that students be allowed their constitutional right to free speech.

ISLAMABAD:

Four days on, Bahria University student Arsalan Bilal has vowed to continue his hunger strike indefinitely till his demands are met.

Addressing a press conference at the National Press Club (NPC), Bilal, who was rusticated for an alleged “gross breach of discipline”, demanded that he be reinstated in the university and that students be allowed their constitutional right to free thinking and speech.

His list of demands also include cessation of all kinds of discrimination in the university on the basis of race, caste, creed and religion; the administration to render more need-based scholarships to students by eliminating fee discounts for children of naval officers; to gradually replace all retired military officers serving in the university by qualified civilians; and a formal apology by the university administration.

Bilal claimed that he has received multiple threats from intelligences agencies to call off his hunger strike. However, he said that since his demands have not been met, he will again stage a sit-in in front of the university premises.

He also noted that if anything were to happen to him, Campus Director Air Commodore (Retd) Anjum Sarfraz, Social Sciences Department Head Dr Huma Haq, rector of Bahria University and the Naval chief should be held responsible.

The student was earlier arrested from outside the university by the Margalla police for violation of section 144 and served six hours in lockups. This time, Bilal said, the police will be informed about his protest.

Responding to allegations by university students that he is using his religion as a tool to achieve ulterior goals, Bilal assured that his struggle is “solely to create awareness among the youth about their rights”.

Bilal said that he already has the support of his parents, and urged students to come forward in the initiative to fight for their rights.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th, 2012.