August 19, 2007	Sunday	Sha’aban 5, 1428

QUETTA, Aug 18: Activists of the Pakhtunkhwa Students Organisation took out a procession here on Saturday against the promulgation of the Governor’s University Ordinance, appointment of a retired army officer as vice-chancellor of the Balochistan University, reduction of seats in various departments and an increase in the admission fee.

The procession started from Government Science College and after passing through the Jinnah Road, Shara-i-Iqbal, Meezan chowk and Manan chowk culminated outside the press club.

The protesters raised slogans against the government and the university administration.

Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party provincial president Usman Kakar, Samandar Khan Kasi, Ahmed Jan and Kabir Afghan spoke on the occasion.

They criticised the Balochistan governor for promulgating the ordinance.

They claimed: “The ordinance deprives teachers of their representation in the academic council, syndicate and senate and gives sweeping powers to the vice-chancellor.”

They said that the promulgation of ordinance was unnecessary in the presence of the University Act and that if the government wanted amendment to the act then it should present it in the Balochistan Assembly.

They demanded that increase in the university’s admission fee should be cancelled.

They warned that students in educational institutions would launch protest movement if their just demands were not accepted.