TIMERGARA: The students of the Malakand University’s software engineering department on Thursday boycotted their classes and took out a procession to demonstrate against the varsity administration for its alleged failure to get their department registered with the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC).

They blocked the Chakdara-Shamozai road for over an hour, chanting slogans against the administration and in favour of their demand.

The students’ leaders, including Sadiqullah, Akmal Hameed, Zakirullah and others, alleged that the varsity administration had been doing nothing to get the software engineering department registered with the PEC.

The students said that they hoped to get recognised degrees in software engineering but it seemed their dreams would not come true.

The protesting students also condemned the faculty members, provost and chief proctor for forcing students’ leaders to give up strikes. They announced to continue their agitation until their demand was met.

Meanwhile, Adenzai assistant commissioner Zahid Pervez Warriach along with DSP Hidayatullah reached the spot and held talks with the students. The officers succeeded to bring the protesting students to the convocation hall of the university, where vice chancellor Professor Johar Ali and the department’s dean assured them that the administration had been in contact with the National Computing Accreditation Council (NCAC) to get the department registered with it.

The vice chancellor assured the students that they would get HEC recognised degrees and their time would not be wasted. He said the university would also contact the PEC soon in this regard.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2015

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