On the second day of violent protest, the students of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) locked the university and forcibly got it vacated from teaching and non-teaching staff against the expulsion of 11 students.
The students vowed that they would not allow the administration to resume educational activities till the restoration of their expelled fellows.
On the other hand, vice chancellor of the university seemed least bothered to restore educational activities, which are badly disturbing the educational atmosphere for the last 10 days.
The QAU students have been protesting against the expulsion of their 11 colleague, but the ‘rude’ behavior of administration provided a ground to students to turn more violent. On Tuesday, the protesting students also thrashed some non-teaching staff, however, no serious case was reported.
On Tuesday, the students forcibly got the university vacated and locked the gates of almost all classrooms and dean offices by butting ‘Elfi in the door-locks.’ They also jammed university’s transport system forcing employees and students to go either on foot or taxi to reach bus stop for catching vans to reach their destinations.
Meanwhile, dozens of students of Federal Urdu University staged a protest demonstration in front of varsity to express solidarity with the sacked students. They blocked the road and intercepted all kind of vans and buses owing to which travelers underwent huge agony and anguish for an hour.
The students threatened to continue their protest and hunger strike till the restoration of their fellows. On the other hand, the vice chancellor office wrote a letter to district administration seeking its help to restore peace in the university. Earlier this month, some 11 students of QAU were expelled by the disciplinary committee after they staged a protest and badly disrupted an international conference on the campus on April 27.
Following this incident, QAU administration also got an FIR registered against the 11 students. Later on the expelled students were asked to approach the syndicate – a high decision making body – ,however the students said that VC Dr Masoom Yasinzai was playing delaying tactic in convening the syndicate meeting.
It is relevant to note here that classes scheduled to end on June 6 and any prolonged dispute would badly affect the academic calendar and study of students who get admission for their better future.
A spokesman of QAU said that administration had already informed the students that their case would be heard in syndicate meeting slated to be held on June 2, however, he said some students wanted to get their demands fulfilled by force. He said around 90 percent students wanted to study but a bulk of students with the help of outsiders were badly disturbing the atmosphere of the varsity.
Meanwhile, a press release issued by VC office stated that a meeting of the deans, chairpersons of the departments, directors of schools / institutes and senior faculty members of the university, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Masoom Yasinzai was held on Tuesday.
In the meeting, the QAU faculty strongly condemned the continuing acts of indiscipline and harassment of the faculty by some of the students. The faculty members were unanimous that teaching and research activities could not be continued in such circumstances.
It said the faculty also asked the vice chancellor to request the district administration to come forward and play its role in order to restore academic and research activities on the campus.
Students lock QAU against expulsion of 11 students
