KOHAT: The students of the Kohat University of Science and Technology on Tuesday closed the varsity’s main gate on the first day of its reopening in protest against the administration’s decision to hold the regular examinations in a week.

Hundreds of students gathered outside the varsity and blocked the Indus Highway for vehicular traffic by placing stones and barricades. They chanted slogans against the administration.

Talking to Dawn on phone, Mr Asadullah, president of the students’ union, said as the university remained closed for over five months and students had been giving online examinations, they were unable to prepare for the regular examinations in a short span of time.

He stated that the boycott of classes would continue unless the administration took back its decision.

He said the students talked to the vice-chancellor, but he refused to accept their demand of continuing with the online examinations till the students prepared for the regular examinations.

He said acting vice-chancellor Dr Tasleem Hussain had given one week’s time to the students to make preparations for the regular examinations.

Mr Asadullah alleged that the vice-chancellor was unable to take any decision because the whole administration was against him.

DELAY IN PLOT ALLOTMENT RESENTED: The Kohat Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday berated the district administration over delay in allotment of a plot for construction of its own building.

Speaking at a meeting here, the KCCI leaders also lamented delay in setting up of an environmental protection office and resolution to the problems related to the small industrial estate.

Former KCCI president Haji Rasheed Paracha regretted that despite having abundant business opportunities in the region there was no planning or mechanism to exploit them.

He said the government should issue soft loans to businessmen interested in setting up industries. He said since the EPA office was in DI Khan the industrialists had to go there to get paperwork done.

The deputy commissioner tasked the additional deputy commissioner with opening a one-window facility for the business community.

ALLEGED KILLERS HELD: The police on Tuesday arrested three brothers for murdering a young football player in Khadar Khel area of Gumbat tehsil earlier this month.

Talking to mediapersons, DSP Sanobar Shah said accused Obaid, Irfan and Nadeem told police that they took the victim, Atifur Rehman, to a godown, tied him with ropes, injured him with knives and then slaughtered him over a trivial matter on Sept 11.

SCHOOL SANCTIONED: Adviser to the chief minister on information and technology, Ziaullah Bangash has sanctioned a middle school and pavement of streets in Miangan Colony and Dheri Banda areas.

He was addressing people after inaugurating a girls’ primary school at Miangan Colony the other day.

He promised to take up the issue of electricity and gas provision with state minister Sheharyar Afridi.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2020