ISLAMABAD: The police have claimed to have arrested more than 100 protesting students on Monday after academic activities and teaching resumed at the Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU). The protesters were taken into custody when they were caught demonstrating against the hike in fees.
A large number of police and FC personnel are present at the campus to ensure that academic activities are not interrupted. Women police officials are also present on the campus.
According to reports, there were clashes with law enforcers at various locations across the university.
The students laid down in front of the buses in protest, following which police conducted a crackdown and arrested the protesters.
As per earlier reports, teaching and academic activities were expected to resume on Monday in the university after a three-week break owing to students’ protest against fees hike.
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, following which the students 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.
Though a large number of students and faculty reached the university on Friday, university administration had informed that teaching and other academic activities at the institution will resume on Monday. Students seeking fresh admission in the university also visited different departments.
QAU had been closed since October 4 when its students launched a demonstration to voice their protest against a 10 per cent 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 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 stated the real reason was their demand of bringing back the students who were expelled owing to the recent clashes in the varsity.
