THE Quaid-i-Azam University has been ranked as the only Pakistan university that made to top 500 universities in the world. This university was established as a scholar’s university.

But, unfortunately, scholars face severe problem regarding hostels. Hostel number three and four were allotted to MPhil and PhD scholars because of their prime location as they were near the labs, mosque, gym, main cafeteria, central library, etc.

This facilitated scholars in their studies and they proved their mettle by helping the university achieve the present ranking. Now university administration wants and shift research scholars from hostel number three and four to new hostels of BS students. How can research scholars adjust along with teens of BS programmes?

The university is considered mini-Pakistan because of the superb combination of various cultures from all across Pakistan. But several ethnic and provincial issues have cropped up in the last two years in undergraduate hostels.

The management has asked some teachers to pressure scholars to vacate hostels. This has put scholars under severe psychological pressure.

All fellows nominated some seniors as their representatives to convey their concern to high authorities. But the administration directly started blackmailing scholars and even lodged an FIR against some senior PhD students.

Scholars have already requested the National Assembly speaker, Central Police Office, Islamabad, chancellor and vice-chancellor of the university and few other authoritative bodies to mediate, but have not received any response.

I urge the authorities concerned to look into this issue and resolve it as soon as possible.

Mashooq Ali

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2019