ISLAMABAD - Complete strike started on the call of Quaidian Students’ Federation (QSF) continued on the second day on Tuesday at the Quaid-i-Azam University for the restoration of 11 expelled students.
On the second consecutive day no classes were held and the university bus service also remained suspended due to blockades by the protesters.
One of the protesting students, Hunain Tariq, said if the university withdraws FIRs registered against students and show-cause notices sent to over 40 students including girl students, they may wait for the Syndicate decision and call off the strike. He was of the view that the University Disciplinary Committee that had given the decision to expel the students can review the decision but the university forwarded the matter to Syndicate to cause delays.
He said other issues of basic facilities at campus could be solved through negotiations as the university administration has already taken few steps like improving the condition of gym and withdrawing the social sciences lab fee, which does not exist.
An official of the university requesting anonymity said that few students have paralyzed all the activities and made hostage the entire campus. He said, though, protest is their right but they should not hamper entire educational activities of the institute. They should wait for the Syndicate decision and negotiations with the administration for other issues.
Meanwhile, a meeting of the Deans, Chairpersons of the Departments, Directors of Schools/Institutes and senior faculty members of the University, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Masoom Yasinzai was also held.
During the meeting, the QAU faculty strongly condemned the continued acts of indiscipline and harassment of the faculty by some of the students. The faculty members were unanimous that teaching and research activities could not be continued in such circumstances. They also asked the Vice-Chancellor to request the District Administration to come forward and play its role in order to restore academic and research activities on the campus.
The VC told TheNation that the university has formally sent the request to the District Administration to restore the academic activity at the campus. He said, though, he had held a meeting with the Chief Commissioner Tariq Peerzada on Monday too and the administration had agreed to send the police force but they could not gather and sent it on time when the bus service starts.
He hoped that after sending formal request they would take action to start bus service and educational activities at campus.