QUETTA: Afghan students protested in the provincial capital on Saturday against the Afghan government’s decision to ban women’s university education.

The students, including women, gathered in front of the Quetta Press Club carrying placards and banners inscribed with their demands and slogans against the neighbouring country’s government.

They also chanted slogans against the decision of the Taliban government and said it would deprive half of the country’s population of education.

Speaking to the demonstrators, students Saaduddin and Maria strongly condemned the education ban and alleged that the present Afghan government wanted to push the new female generation into an era of darkness.

They said the people of Afghanistan, especially women, would not tolerate such autocratic orders and would resist the move.

“Pakistan and other countries should play their role in making the Afghan government withdraw the ban on college and university-level education for women,” Maria said, adding that our struggle would continue until the ban was lifted.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2022