SWABI: The University of Swabi on Thursday withdrew its notification for in-person examinations and issued another notification for holding the exams online, but only after a protest demonstration by the students.

The exams were scheduled to be held soon after opening of the institution on Feb 1.

Earlier, the students gathered at the university campus and marched to Swabi interchange of the motorway and blocked the Swabi-Jehangira road to traffic.

They were holding placards inscribed with various slogans against in-person examinations and chanted slogans against the university administration.

The students said they tried to persuade the management of the university in the morning, but they were not ready to pay heed to what they termed their genuine demand for online exams, forcing them to block the road and staged a demonstration.

Addressing the protesting students, leaders of different federations said that their examinations should be conducted online like other universities in the country.

The speakers also claimed that the university had not made registration of various departments with HEC and demanded end to dropout system.

Later, the university withdrew its earlier notification and issued another one, saying the examinations would be held online.

SOCIAL EVILS: A protest demonstration was held in Swabi against increasing social evils, especially drug abuse in the society.

The protest was organised by Rah-i-Aman Tehreek and its leaders and workers supported by other welfare bodies gathered in the district headquarters and marched to Karnal Sher Khan Chowk.

The speakers said on the occasion the illegal business of interest-based loans and use of drugs, especially ice, had been on the rise in the district.

Nishtar Khan, head of the Tehreek, said these social evils had destroyed the fabric of the society and the poor were trapped in the net of those wealthy people who wanted to make quick bucks.

Other speakers said that eradication of social evils was essential to enable the people live peacefully and earn their livelihood with dignity.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2021