ISLAMABAD: After almost three weeks, the Quaid-i-Azam University is all set to partially reopen from Monday for M. Phil and PhD students.

After a scuffle between two ethnic student groups that left around two dozen students injured, the university saw closure on Feb 27.

Later, the university management got its hostels vacated from revoked all hostel admissions.

Meanwhile, allotment of hostels was made afresh with a priority being given to female students. Similarly, the university took a highly harsh step of expelling over 70 students and also revoking degrees of some former students for their involvement in the scuffle. The university management however faced criticism being too harsh with the students.

Only M.Phil, PhD students asked to resume classes

On the other hand, this is also a fact that QAU, which is the country’s top ranked university is in the grip of ethnic politics and grouping, which results into fights.

Meanwhile, the university some days ago, finally got a regular Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Niaz Ahmed Akhtar.

Earlier, the university after the completion of tenure of its former VC in October, was being run temporarily by the executive director of Higher Education Commission (HEC).

Faculty members Dawn spoke to have been pinning high hopes on the new VC to resolve issues of the university, which is also facing a severe financial crisis. The university budget for the current fiscal year 2022-23, had been estimated with a deficit of Rs580.5 million.

“Every year, our university faces student fights and closure and there is need to put the university affairs in order. There are many other universities in Islamabad, but only QAU faces such situations. This is a matter of concern,” said a faculty member.

A notification issued by QAU Registrar Dr Raja Qaiser Ahmed on Friday stated that the university will be opened for research students from March 20, 2023.

Therefore, all the research students are advised to report to their respective departments, it stated, adding that students will be provided accommodation (if required) up to June 2023 on the recommendations of their respective chairpersons, directors and deans.

It also said: “All the residents of boys hostels are directed to collect their belongings from their rooms and contact Office of the Provost Boys Hostels in this regard and their fresh allotments will be made as per new Hostel Allotment Policy ... All students of BS Programmes (morning/evening) and M.Phil/M.S (morning/evening/weekend) and Ph.D course work are advised to get their registration completed from March 20 to 27, 2023 and their classes will be conducted online during the month of Ramazan.”

All students who had not paid their fee may deposit their dues online in any branch of Habib Bank Limited and Askari Bank before March 27, it added.

The university also asked students to submit their pending thesis. “All the pending thesis submissions can be made till March 31,” the notification stated.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2023