PESHAWAR/LOWER DIR: Artists and youth staged a musical protest against the death of a student of University of Malakand, who had died in a road accident after being allegedly expelled from the hostel over playing rabab on the campus.

The protest was arranged by Hunari Tolona, Mafkoora, Pakistan Development Foundation and Forum for Inquiry, Knowledge and Review.

A statement issued here said that a large number of youth artists gathered outside Peshawar Press Club and artists played their rababs to protest the death of Mohammad Musa Khan, a sixth semester student of University of Malakand.

Protesters were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans in favour of Musa Khan. Hayat Roghani, Mohammad Bilal Sethi, Yousaf Anwar, Prof Gulzar Jalal, Kaneez Fatima Sethi, Advocate Haider Jan, Salman Omar, Fareedoon Khan, Haris Kamal, Advocate Arbab Ifrahim and Shaheer Chagharmatti took part in the protest.

The student was expelled from hostel ‘for playing rabab’

They said that all people responsible for death of Musa Khan should be brought to justice. They also demanded of the government to terminate from service the provost of Malakand University, hostel warden and chief proctor. They must be barred from holding any government job in future, they added.

The protesters demanded that dynamic leaders should be appointed as vice-chancellors of universities who had a genuine love for literature and arts. They said that students should be allowed to organise cultural events.

They sought a transparent and impartial investigation into the circumstances leading to expulsion of Musa Khan from hostel and his subsequent death.

Meanwhile, despite closure of University of Malakand (UoM), hundreds of its students on Monday took to streets and held a rally against the death of Musa Khan.

Carrying placards inscribed with slogans of ‘stand for justice and stand for Musa’, protesters blocked Chakdara-Shamozai road to traffic and chanted slogans against the university administration. The local administration diverted traffic to Swat GT road.

Protesters demanded immediate suspension of UoM Vice-chancellor Prof Rashid Ahmad, provost Dr Janus Khan, chief proctor Dr Aziz Khan and hostel warden Habib Khan for their alleged misbehaviour and mentally torturing the student.

They said that Musa Khan and his friends were served show-cause notices for keeping rabab that caused severe depression to him and he died in a road accident. Scores of protesting students were also carrying rabab on the occasion.

Besides student leaders, the rally was also addressed by ANP provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain, MPA Humayun Khan, ANP provincial general secretary Hussain Shah Yousafzai, provincial president of Mazdoor Kisan Party Fiaz Ali, JI youth wing district president Ateequr Rehman, PPP district information secretary Advocate Alamzeb, students’ jirga chief Maaz Khan, PPP Adenzai leader Naeemullah and others.

They alleged that Musa Khan, a student of journalism and mass communication department, was killed in a road accident because he was expelled from the hostel along with other friends in the night. They rejected the notification to resolve the issue amicably.

Taking notice of the issue, the UoM has convened a meeting today (Tuesday) of all deans, heads of departments and coordinator of women sub-campus in Batkhela.

A notification issued by the university registrar said that the agenda of the meeting would be shared on the table.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2024