ISLAMABAD: Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) reopened its doors Friday morning following a settlement between representatives of the protesting students, university officials, and district administration.
Though a large number of students and faculty reached the university on Friday, university administration informed that teaching and other academic activities at the institution will resume on Monday. Students seeking fresh admission in the university were also visiting different departments.
QAU had been closed since October 4 — approximately 16 days — when its students launched a demonstration to voice their protest against a 10 percent fee hike.
As the protests began, the students blocked the university’s main road and refused to allow buses to ply on the campus.
The university issued a notification Thursday night saying it has retracted its decision to make a 10 percent upward revision in the fees, its vice-chancellor disclosed, adding that the students have concluded their protest.
“The talks between protesting students and university administration have been successful, culminating in the university reopening its gates on Friday,” Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Captain (r) Mushtaq Ahmad commented.
“It is not advisable to take any action in education institutes that may have a negative impact on the country’s image,” Ahmad added.
The Deputy Commissioner noted that 12 out of the students’ 13 demands pertained to the university’s administration, and of those, the biggest one was related to the fees.
The students had claimed that they were protesting for better facilities in the hostel and for the cancellation of a recent hike in fees.
However, QAU officials said the real reason was their demand of bringing back the students who were expelled owing to the recent clashes in the varsity.