IIUI protests continue

Students protest against fee hike, boycott all academic activities.

ISLAMABAD: Students of the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) continued their ongoing protest against fee hike in the university on Tuesday. The series of protests, which started on Tuesday, continued at the campus as students gathered at the call of Muttahida Students Mahaz and boycotted all academic activities.

Protestors blocked the road near the main gate, forcing the administrative staff and instructors to access their offices by foot. They chanted slogans against the administration and demanded withdrawal of the decision to increase semester fees.

Some students also complained of nepotism in granting accommodation to the students in university hostels. Omer Zubair, a student of Software Engineering, said that he got admission in 2008, but was still unable to avail the hostel facility. “New students from influential backgrounds always manage to get accommodation,” he added.

Moreover, Mustansir Mehmood, a student, said that Rs2,000 to Rs5,000 had been raised for every facility under the garb of service charges. “The decision has badly affected our monthly budgets,” he complained.

He added that the University Board of Governors had opposed the decision to raise fees, but President and the Vice President of the university ignored them.

Students also protested the suspension of scholarships. “Those who work hard to attain merit should be rewarded for their efforts,” said Ahmed, a graduate student.

IIUI Vice President Dr Parveen Qadir Agha said the Rules Making Body will consider the students’ demands. “This was our internal issue. Such issues often emerge between the students and the administration,” she said.

She added that genuine concerns would be addressed and all efforts would be made to facilitate the students. “But they should also keep the financial constraints of IIUI in mind,” she said.

On Tuesday, female students residing on campus held a protest against increase in the utility charges of hostel rooms. The protest was called off after successful negotiation with the administration.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7^th, 2010.