Quetta: Sit-in by All Balochistan Student Organizations Alliance enters its 14th day after the administration decides to close Bolan Medical College and its hostels until March next year.
Baloch Students Action Committee, Baloch Students Organization, Baloch Students Organization (Pajjar), and Pukhtoon Student Federation announced a sit-in after the administration of Bolan Medical College decided to close the institution until March, citing the need for maintenance and repair of the infrastructure.
It should be noted that the students’ final exams were approaching when the college administration unilaterally took the step.
According to the press release issued by the Alliance, three demands have been put forward, which include the opening of the college and its hostels immediately, recovery of items lost during the forced evacuation of students from hostels, and accountability of police and university administration officials involved in the baton charge and tear-gassing of students involved in the protest against the move.
Talking to The Students’ Herald, the Vice-chairman of Baloch Students Action Committee (BSAC) Rafiq Baloch said, “the university administration does not provide any facilities to students all round the year, citing a lack of funds, but now they have announced the closure of the institution on the accounts of repairing when they don’t even have funds for it. Moreover, during negotiations between students and administration, the administration has repeatedly cited that they are unable to accept the demands as they have got orders from the ‘above’ and are involved in harassment of students sitting in the sit-in.”
Secretary General of Progressive Students’ Collective, Comrade Haris Azad said that the closure of Bolan Medical College in the disguise of repairing and renovating is just another step towards the militarization of college. “Progressive Students’ Collective stands in complete solidarity with the students protesting and demands an immediate reopening of the college,” he added.
