After police charge: Protest turns violent in Benazirabad

HYDERABAD: A peaceful protest staged by teachers and students of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University (SBBU) in Shaheed Benazirabad district turned violent when the police baton charged demonstrators. According to some sources, the police were accompanied in their assault by members of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) student’s wing. At least 12 teachers and students were injured in the ensuing clashes while those detained by the police included SBBU Teachers Association’s General Secretary Delair Khan Jatoi. The teachers and students were protesting against the removal of the university’s registrar, Kehar Khan Khoso, in addition to demanding the restoration of Professor Anwar Mansoor Mangrio. Mangrio had recently opposed hiring retired people in administrative positions of the institute. Speaking to the media, Professor Lata Kumari said they were holding a peaceful sit-in outside the office, where the syndicate meeting was underway, when the police and members of the PPP student wing attacked them.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2012.