Students, teachers and staff stage parallel protests over exam disruptions, fee hikes and administrative collapse
Participants accused the administration of “turning education into a joke,” saying that students who travel long distances and prepare diligently repeatedly face postponed or boycotted exams. PHOTO: EXPRESS
KARACHI:
Protest tensions gripped the University of Karachi on Monday as students, teachers and staff took to the streets in separate but overlapping demonstrations over canceled exams, fee hikes and a deepening financial and administrative crisis at the institution.
The protests were organized by Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba and a student alliance, who staged a demonstration and then marched from Terminal Point to Pharmacy Chowk, raising slogans against university policies and repeated academic disruptions.
Participants accused the administration of “turning education into a joke,” claiming that students who travel long distances and prepare diligently were repeatedly faced with postponed or boycotted exams.
They said such uncertainty was causing severe mental stress and academic losses, adding that despite high fees, basic facilities on campus remained inadequate. Protesters also blamed the ongoing disputes between teachers and administration for directly harming students’ academic progress, and urged both sides to urgently resolve their issues.
Read more: KU professors. Employees accuse VC of financial irregularities.
Moreover, on the 25th day of an ongoing protest movement in the university, a large number of professors, officials, employees and students gathered in front of the Administration Block for a strong demonstration and march.
Participants raised slogans against financial mismanagement, administrative inefficiency and what they described as the “collapse of the academic environment” at the institution.
The speakers alleged that issues such as house ceiling, arrears, evening program dues, examination fees, leave encashment, supervisors’ fees and dues of retired employees were pending for a long time. They accused the administration of delaying tactics, pressure politics and a lack of seriousness in resolving long-standing financial disputes.
Protesters expressed deep concern that a premier educational institution has been pushed to a point where all stakeholders – teachers, staff and students – have been forced to take to the streets, while authorities continue to avoid taking meaningful action.
They warned that if the problems were not resolved immediately, the protest movement would intensify and the administration and relevant government authorities would be responsible for the consequences.
Protesters also announced that protests would continue even on the days of Eid, with a demonstration planned in front of the Administration Block, which would also involve families of teachers and staff to highlight the broader human impact of the crisis.
They urged Sindh Chief Minister and Pakistan People’s Party President Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to immediately take note of the situation, order transparent investigations into financial and administrative mismanagement, ensure payment of outstanding dues and take urgent steps to prevent further deterioration of the university.
