For the last two weeks students of Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan have set a camp in front of the main gate of the varsity pleading to the university administration and the governments [Government of Balochistan, Government of Punjab and the Federal Government] to restore the reserved seats for the Baloch students in the university which have been cancelled from this year in a notification released by the varsity.
In severe hotness of the city, Baloch students turn their days into nights in the camp on the roads, but the university and governments have maintained silence over solving the issue of the poor students. As previously, the university provided two reserved seats in every department for the students of Balochistan, which helped the students to gain a higher education without any dues.
Above all, it helped a number of female students from Balochistan to availing free education as most of the families rarely spend a rupee by themselves to educate their women, deeming them as “burdens” on them. Now as around more than 100 reserved seats in BZU have been taken away, it sinks with it the hopes of women in Balochistan.
Muskan [a common name to make her identity confidential], hailing from a village in district Kech, calls Amir Qomi, a student of BZU Multan sitting in the protest, and asks if she manages to get a “reserved seat” in the university of Multan, would it need much money for her to stay and continue her education thereafter! She was unaware that the reserved seats for the university of Multan have been cancelled, yet Amir did not say anything like to her, but told her she would need to spend a small amount of money which she could afford once she secures a seat. She got happy and cut the phone hoping to get a seat in BZU Multan.
What would be her reactions when she comes to know the university has cancelled the reserved seats for the students of Balochistan? How would she continue her higher education later? Will she have to crucify her dreams and wishes of a higher education and doing something for her family and nation?
However, Amir says he believes his nation stands by them in this tough time for the poor students and get back the seats from the varsity. But is it really going to happen? Why are only Baloch students getting directed to spend their days and nights on roadsides in protests to ask for their fundamental rights? Despite knowing well that an education helps the growth of the province and country as a whole, the federal government is tacit to the grieved issue of education.
Sadly, in the recent visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan in Quetta, our so-called representatives did not bother themselves to highlight the plights of Baloch students in the universities of Punjab. A little time on a short discussion of the students could have worked in the favor of the students sleeping on roads, but nothing.
As the federal government, in consultation with the provincial ministers, have agreed to re-open the educational institutions from the ongoing month, what would be the fate of Baloch students? Would they have to sit way long until the reserved seats are restored? What if things go the other way? Should we have to see them losing their education too?
The government of Balochistan in collaboration with the federal government ought to discuss with the government of Punjab to restore the reserve seats for the Baloch students in BZU Multan so that the poor students do not get to lose their hopes of higher education. It will not only affect the literacy rate of Balochistan with getting lower in prosperity, but also throw long-lasting impacts on the development of Pakistan. Restore the reserve seats of Balochistan in BZU Multan.
