LOWER DIR: The University of Malakand was closed for three days on Sunday after students announced a protest against the management after a student died in a road accident on Thursday night when he was going home after his alleged expulsion from a hostel.

The UoM said due to unavoidable circumstances and in the best interest of students and public, the varsity, its women campus Batkhela and its constituent school and college would remain closed for a period of three days.

A notification issued by the varsity’s registrar said papers falling on these days would be rescheduled after reopening of the university.

A students’ society had planned to stage a protest sit-in outside the office of the vice-chancellor for an indefinite period from Monday (today) against the varsity administration’s alleged misbehaviour with students.

Officials say university has nothing to do with the incident

The decision was taken during a joint meeting of the students’ organisations the other day.

The meeting had announced that members of all students’ organisations would protest against the varsity administration for ‘compelling’ students to leave the hostels.

They said due to this ‘harsh treatment’, a dejected student of the journalism and mass communication department, Musa Khan hailing from Upper Dir district, was killed in a road accident and two of his friends were seriously injured.

The meeting demanded of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi to order a probe into the matter and dismiss the provost, chief proctor and hostel warden.

Meanwhile the UoM director administration Dr Altaf Hussain Akhunkhel, provost Dr Janus Khan and director students’ society Jamil Anwar told journalists that the varsity had nothing to do with the death of Musa Khan.

Speaking at a news conference in Chakdara, they clarified that the student was killed in a road accident at Pull Chowky on Swat Motorway when he was going to Batkhela along with two other students on May 29.

They said FIR of the incident showed the student was killed by a speedy car coming on the wrong side outside the varsity. They said the varsity provided two buses to students, who wanted to attend the funeral prayers of the student.

They said the VC also visited the victim’s family on the very next day and condoled his sudden death. They said some elements with vested interest were misleading the public on social media.

Also on Sunday, chief proctor Dr Aziz told Dawn that the students had not been misbehaved. Commenting on media reports, Dr Aziz said the students were not restricted from the hostels and the varsity had nothing to do with the death of Musa Khan.

He said the deceased had taken an active part in students’ election on that very day and he was quite normal. He said that some elements were blaming the varsity for the sad demise of the student, which was totally baseless

CAREER COUNSELLING: The district administration in collaboration with the youth affairs department on Sunday arranged a career counselling and development initiative at government high school, Balambat.

Additional assistant commissioner, Timergara, Tariq Khan and principal Abdul Salim Khan, who were invited as guest speakers, highlighted the importance of career development. They elaborated on the strength, weakness, opportunity and threat analysis.

The speakers shared their personal success stories and encouraged the students to go ahead and focus on their career.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2024