GILGIT: Karakoram International University (KIU) Diamer and Ghizer and Hunza campuses students on Tuesday staged a protest against the decision of the KIU syndicate to close KIU three campuses over financial crises.

Students blocked Karakoram Highway, Ghizer road for many hours also took to streets in Hunza.

Protesting students demanded a fair investigation of financial emblazonment in KIU and actionagainst vicechancellor for his failure to manage KIU campuses.

A large number of KIU Diamer campus students staged a protest demonstration blocking Karakoram highway (KKH) at Chilas against the decision to close Diamer campus.

Civil society and political party workers, including Awami Workers Party leader Baba Jan also joined the protesters to show their solidarity with the protesters

One of the protesting student said KIU Diamer campus is only institution in the area for higher education.

He said the decision to close KIU campuses created anxiety among students.

The student said it is the failure of KIU VC and administration to manage the university.

He said it was amazing that VC says the Karakoram International University campuses are not profitable and announced to close on ground of not generating income.

The protest left vehicular traffic stranded on the Karakoram highway for several hours, causing inconvenience to tourists and travelers.

Long queues of vehicles could be seen on both sides, and traffic going to or from other parts of the country remained stuck there for several hours.

The students also condemned the decision to increase semester fee by 25pc.

They said that Diamar Campus should be handed over to Wapda for another ten years.

They demanded that four more departments should be started in Diamar campus keeping in view the need of the time.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2024