PESHAWAR, May 12: Students of the girls’ campus of the Khyber Medical College claim that they face discrimination at the hands of students of the main campus. The campus was established by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government.

Students of the girls’ campus, which is to be officially inaugurated on Friday, say that, although they are now part of the college, they are being harassed by students of the main campus.

Some 50 girl students were admitted to the girls’ campus on merit after getting transferred from Ayub Medical College, Khyber Dental College, Gomal Medical College, Saidu Sharif Medical College, according to Zia-ul-Islam, the project director. Of them, 11 opted for the GC from Gomal Medical College, ten from Saidu Medical College, 14 from Ayub Medical College and nine from Khyber Dental College.

“I opted for the GC because I would be nearer my home but, mainly, because I am now a student of KMC—the most prestigious medical college of the province,” said one student who had come from Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad.

About 22 students, who were accommodated in the college hostel at the main campus, said that they wanted a separate hostel as the students of the main campus treated them shabbily.

Overall, the students say they are happy to be in the girls’ campus, citing smaller classes and full attention of the teacher as positive factors. But they also moan about the accommodation and transportation to and from the hostel and the campus.

“In one room, six students were accommodated and it is hard for the inmates of the room to accept any outsider. We are unable to concentrate on our studies,” complained one boarder of the girls’ campus.

The students also accused the administration of forcing them to wear a uniform consisting of maroon shirts, a white shalwar, duppata and black shoes. A notice was placed by the project director in the canteen about the so-called “uniform” or dress code. All the first-year MBBS students of the girls’ campus were directed “to wear the prescribed uniform” or risk disciplinary action.