QMC ‘scare tactics’ fall flat
QMC administration is allegedly using extreme measures against the students.
BAHAWALPUR:
Quaid-e-Azam Medical College (QMC) administration is allegedly using extreme measures against the students. Two students were arrested earlier on Monday, after which the remaining students protested against the college principal for the 31st day.
According to several students, the college principal Dr Ejaz Shah ordered the QMC hostel to be raided and students Ramiz and Faraz were arrested.
Once the news of the arrests spread around campus, hundreds of students gathered and protested on the college premises and shouted slogans against the principal and the college administration. “They had already registered cases against us and arrested us for protesting but we thought the matter was resolved when we were told the principal was handing in his resignation and didn’t come to the campus for two days. Apparently not,” said QMC student Abdullah Hayat. First year students also joined the seniors in the protests.
Addressing a press conference, the students said that the college principal and the administration had started retaliatory measures against the students and their future was at stake. “They are mentally torturing us with all this backlash. Sometimes they change the exam date sheets at the last minute or send a staff member to wake students up in the middle of the night and have us arrested,” QMC senior Ali said. The students vowed that the staff and administrations ‘scare tactics’ would not work and that protests would continue. “We will take to the streets once again until our classmates are released,” Ali said. QMC students are now gearing up to continue with their protests against the college administration. The protests initially revolved around the students demanding a reduction in college fees and better facilities on campus. This included stable electricity supply and hostel facilities. However, when the college administration reacted to the protests and police brutality was reported by students, the students began protesting for the principal, Dr Ejaz Shah’s resignation. The QMC protests have now continued for over a month.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2010.
Quaid-e-Azam Medical College (QMC) administration is allegedly using extreme measures against the students. Two students were arrested earlier on Monday, after which the remaining students protested against the college principal for the 31st day.
According to several students, the college principal Dr Ejaz Shah ordered the QMC hostel to be raided and students Ramiz and Faraz were arrested.
Once the news of the arrests spread around campus, hundreds of students gathered and protested on the college premises and shouted slogans against the principal and the college administration. “They had already registered cases against us and arrested us for protesting but we thought the matter was resolved when we were told the principal was handing in his resignation and didn’t come to the campus for two days. Apparently not,” said QMC student Abdullah Hayat. First year students also joined the seniors in the protests.
Addressing a press conference, the students said that the college principal and the administration had started retaliatory measures against the students and their future was at stake. “They are mentally torturing us with all this backlash. Sometimes they change the exam date sheets at the last minute or send a staff member to wake students up in the middle of the night and have us arrested,” QMC senior Ali said. The students vowed that the staff and administrations ‘scare tactics’ would not work and that protests would continue. “We will take to the streets once again until our classmates are released,” Ali said. QMC students are now gearing up to continue with their protests against the college administration. The protests initially revolved around the students demanding a reduction in college fees and better facilities on campus. This included stable electricity supply and hostel facilities. However, when the college administration reacted to the protests and police brutality was reported by students, the students began protesting for the principal, Dr Ejaz Shah’s resignation. The QMC protests have now continued for over a month.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2010.