ISLAMABAD: Deadlock between the protesting students and the administration of the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) continued as the syndicate on Friday refused to restore the expelled students.

The students’ main demands included restoration of the expelled students and withdrawal of a recent increase in fees. The university syndicate, which met under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Ashraf, discussed the situation as the students’ strike continued for 16 days. The syndicate has already withdrawn the increase in fees.

However, according to the VC, the syndicate unanimously upheld the recent decisions of the University Disciplinary Committee in which a number of students were expelled, rusticated or fined for clashes between two groups of students on May 20. The syndicate constituted a three-member committee under the chairmanship of MNA Tahir Iqbal which will have nominees of the education ministry and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) as its members.

The committee will review procedures adopted by the disciplinary committee to determine the punishments awarded to the students. However, the VC said punishments awarded for the May 20 incident would not be affected.

Officials at the QAU told Dawn that the protest continued on the campus on Friday. “There are chances that the students will call off their strike as one of their major demands - revision of fees - has been approved. On the demand of the students, the university administration had placed the case of the expelled students before the syndicate,” said a QAU official.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2017