Arshad Ghauri, a BS Final student of Economics, was planning to sit his Lahore University of Management Sciences (Lums) test scheduled on January 7. He will now have to wait for another year to apply to the institute as his re-scheduled human resource management exam is on the same day and at the same time. He had also planned to sit the navy entrance test this month, but Ghauri feels his application will be weak without his results in hand.
Ahsan Raza, a final-year student of KU’s mass communication department, protested the yearly drama of postponing exams because of student-union forays. “I did not damage university property, I did not beat up anyone, I did not get involved in any disruptive actions on campus. Then why should I suffer?” he voiced his frustration.
Along with his studies, Ahsan is also working at a private television channel. He had taken off from work for five exams but these non-stop delays have disrupted both his work and studies.
Scheduled to have begun on November 25, most of the exams are still pending after the clash between two student political organisations that took place on December 9.
The new schedule for the exams is still undecided as teachers and staff of the public university are trying to grapple with the confrontational political bodies and the ensuing administrative action.
Students were disappointed as they were expecting to sit their exams after the Karachi University Teachers Society protest ended.
However, they found out on Monday night that exams have been postponed for another two days.
Due to the protest, the KU administration decided to change the campus security officer, replacing Khalid Iraqi by Naveed Siddiqui — who is known to have political leanings towards a student organisation affiliated with a political party. The notification for this change was issued on Monday which sparked fresh protests on Tuesday as the student representatives of other political parties objected that this bias would adversely affect the university’s situation.
A representative of the Islami Jamiat-i-Tulaba (IJT) said they are now protesting along with the Peoples Student Federation, Punjabi Students Association and Imamia Students Organisation to remove “politically biased” people from administrative positions at the university.
Following these protests, some IJT members forcibly closed down the university’s administration department. KU registrar Prof Dr Kaleem Raza Khan announced that the university will further remain closed “due to security concerns” till they reach a conclusion in a meeting between the university’s vice-chancellor and members of the Students’ Alliance on Wednesday.
Futures on the line
“We know that there won’t be any exam on the December 25 holiday and there won’t be any on December 27 because of Benazir Bhutto’s death anniversary. How will they be able to finish the semester on time,” a student said. She explained that all the final-year students of the university are especially worried because they have to plan their career or their postgraduate study and need their results as soon as possible.
The situation has not just affected the semester system and the upcoming academic session, but has also foiled future preparations for many.
A student, requesting anonymity, told The Express Tribune that she is applying for a scholarship and her application timelines were seriously disturbed as the university and the classes are shut down. “Where will I get my forms attested from and how will I complete the academic documents required when no one is in the mood to work and I have limited time,” she said, almost in tears. Hira, Ahsan and Arshad were among the handful of students who were openly protesting. Others were too afraid to raise any voice against the ‘powerful’ student groups. They demanded that the university administration find a permanent solution for these clashes instead of just shutting the university down.
“There have never been any arrests or strong punishments, even after students have been murdered on campus,” Ahsan pointed out. Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan directed KU vice-chancellor Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui to ensure exams are not delayed anymore.
In a meeting at Governor House on Tuesday, he asked the vice-chancellor yet again to take strict measures against those who disturb the academic environment of the university.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 22nd, 2010.
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