The protests at universities have become a common practice in Balochistan. Students are compelled to do strikes for their genuine issues since administrative bodies of higher institutions do not sort out issues without strikes. The recent protest at University of Turbat began when the administration canceled the allotment of a student and charged the other few a fine of RS.15,000 accusing the students of staging an “illegal book fair” at the varsity.
After the hostel’s security guards prevented the said student from entering the hostel, the students recorded a protest at the hostel gate on that night, yet no one came to listen to them. On Wednesday, March 12 of this month, students sat in front of the Admin Block of the university to be heard. Unluckily, the administration ignored the students.
After 24 hours, students could not see any interest from the admin block, so they closed the admin gate the next day on March 13. At noon a delegation varsity tutors, including Dr Adeel, Dr Riaz, Madam Mahnaz and Sir Chakar met the students as mediators.
Despite playing the role of mediators, they warned the students to decrease their demands and end the protest. After a two-hour discussion, the students agreed to show flexibility. So, the delegation went to put forward the demands of the students to the authoritative body to resolve the problems for which the students are protesting.
On contrary of getting a positive response, university issued suspension letters to 5 students, rusticating them for one year, and canceled the admission of a final year students permanently. They were students who met the delegation team and represented the protesting students.
In a press conference right in front of the admin block, the students put forward their legitimate demands before the media on the same day – March 13, which include:
1. Restoration of the hostel allotment of said student.
2. Elimination of the illegal fine on the students accused of holding book fairs.
3. Retrieving the admission of the student whose admission was canceled for closing the gate.
4. Removing the rustication of the students.
5. Not to torture or profile any student because of being part of the protest
Apart from these, several of their demands were regarding hostel mess, academics, boys and girls hostel.
However, despite showing interest in solving the issue, university is constantly threatening the students to wind up the protest, otherwise they would “call the police, and other law enforcement agencies to forcefully demolish the protest”. Additionally, they warned other students that they would face harsh consequences such as rustication, cancelling the admission and fine if they joined the protest or support the protesting students.
It is not the first time that University of Turbat is doing such heinous acts, rather it is an old tactic of the varsity to suppress the peaceful voices of students. They, the students, warned that if their demands were not be accepted, they would closed the main gate and broaden their protest.
