ISLAMABAD: Classes may resume at Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) on Monday after five out of six student councils called off an ongoing strike.

The Baloch Student Council is continuing the protest, saying it will continue to do so until students expelled for their involvement in a clash on campus in May are restored.

University sources told Dawn the Punjab, Mehran, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakhtun and Seraiki student councils called off the strike on Friday night, after 19 days, following the syndicate meeting.

The syndicate upheld the expulsion of students the protesters were seeking to overturn, but ordered the withdrawal of a 10pc increase in fees and accepted the students other 12 demands.

“Classes will start from Monday, as the majority of students – except for the Baloch Student Council – have called off their strike,” Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Ashraf said.

The councils were protesting under the banner of the QAU Students Federation (QSF). The Baloch Student Council rejected the QSF’s decision, and announced at a press conference at the National Press Club on Sunday that they would continue the strike.

Baloch Student Council Chairman Kamran Baloch and other students said Baloch students are being victimised by the university administration and demanded that expelled Baloch students, including the council chairman, be restored.

They alleged the university’s Academic Staff Association victimised Baloch students by pressuring the vice chancellor and the syndicate not to restore the expelled students.

“We are facing injustice,” said Shahdad Baloch, adding that their protest would continue. The students also held a protest in front of the National Press Club and marched towards Super Market, chanting slogans against the QAU administration.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2017