Manan Mandokhail:
At least eight students of Balochistan University were injured and several were arrested during clashes with police on Saturday. The students were protesting against the entry tests when clashed with police. Almost all student organizations have objected to the method of entry tests for students in the province’s oldest university.
“Police baton charged students in presence of Spokeswoman government of Balochistan”, Saifullah Khan, one of the student leaders told Daily Quetta Voice via telephone. Panic prevailed in the university as more policemen were deployed in the aftermath of violent clashes. The injured students were shifted to civil hospital Quetta for medical treatment.
Spokeswoman government of Balochistan, Farah Azeem Shah reached the spot of the protest and held negotiations with the protesting students. “Government is serious about resolution of your problems”, she assured the protesting students.
Students blocked main road outside the university
The students blocked the main road outside the Balochistan University and chanted slogans against the university administration and police for what they claim using force against the students. They demanded Vice Chancellor cancel the ongoing test and take students into confidence in this regard. “Our protest would continue until the students are released and tests are canceled”, Asad Khan, another protesting student from the Peoples Students Federation (PSF) said. He said the university administration was creating obstacles for the students of the deprived areas of the province to study at the university.
There was no word from the Balochistan University administration in response to the student protest.
The student protests affected the flow of traffic and people faced difficulties while reaching their destinations on Quetta’s Sariab Road. Long queues of vehicles were witnessed on both sides of the road because of the blockade of the road by the protesting students.
