ISLAMABAD: The Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) on Wednesday expelled over 70 students, besides revoking degrees of some former students for their alleged involvement in recent clash that left a number of students injured.

“Quaid-i-Azam University has expelled/cancelled degrees of 79 students involved in executing on-campus violence, taking law in hand, disturbing academic peace and violating institutional discipline,” university registrar Raja Qaiser Ahmed tweeted.

However, the university faced massive criticism on social media for the said decision as people termed it too harsh.

It is relevant to note here that recently, the university saw a violent clash between two groups that left around two dozen students injured. A few of them received serious injuries.

Later on, the university management announced closure of the university for an indefinite period of time and got hostels vacated.

Currently, the university is closed and an official said that reopening of the university could take almost 10 more days. He said that necessary repair and renovation work is being carried out while bio-metric system is being installed in hostels.

Similarly, the official said that security cameras are also being installed, adding that after reopening, the university management will make hostel allotments afresh.

Sources in QAU said that out of 79 students, around 70 are current students who have been expelled, while degrees of around eight former students have been revoked for their involvement in the said clash.

However, he said that expelled and those whose degrees have been revoked could file their appeal before the university syndicate.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2023