Qaim’s late arrival puts students in misery

LARKANA - Sindh CM Qaim Ali Shah on Saturday ruled out imposition of governor’s rule in the province. Earlier, the first convocation of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU) Larkana was marred due to Qaim’s late arrival.
Students of constituent colleges of SMBBMU including Chandka Medical College and Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College Sukkur staged protest, threw their gowns, caps and walked out of the convocation venue. They returned along with their parents without receiving degrees and medals here on Saturday evening.
The first-ever convocation of SMBBMU, after its establishment in 2008, was organised at the under-construction building site of the university near village Khair Muhammad Arija Moenjodaro Airport Road, some 25-km from Larkana city, to award 590 degrees, 24 gold medals, 40 silver medals, 15 degree certificates to postgraduate students of six batches of Chandka Medical College Larkana and Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College Sukkur.
The convocation was scheduled to be started at 9:00am but due to late arrival of Qaim, it started after 5:00pm, resultantly 80 percent students had left the convocation venue in protest who were present there since early morning. They came from different cities including Dadu, Naushero Feroz, Khairpur, Ghotki, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Kandhkot Kashmore, Kamber Shahdadkot, Sukkur, Ratodero Naudero, Dokri tehsil of Larkana district and others who waited several hours to get their degrees but returned without getting them.
The enraged students protested and shouted slogans against the administration of SMBBMU and held SMBBMU vice chancellor responsible for mismanagement and arranging poor facilities for graduates and other guests who had arrived from the far-flung areas.
Students alleged that millions of rupees were spent on the convocation but all went in vain. The programme should have been arranged at the Auditorium Hall of Chandka Medical College Larkana but the incompetent authorities selected the under construction site of the university at Khair Muhammad Arija village which created severe difficulties for the graduates and other visitors. They demanded an inquiry into the budget used in convocation and compensation to the students for their expense.
It is pertinent to mention here that it was the 10th convocation of Chandka Medical College Larkana and second convocation of Ghulam Muhammad Maher Medical College Sukkur convocation which was held after three years.

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