KARACHI: Defying restrictions and road barricades raised by police, a large number of students marched from the Karachi Press Club to the Sindh Assembly on Thursday in a protest against what they called the “anti-student policies” of the provincial government.

The students, who gathered at the KPC under the platform of the Islami Jamiat-i-Talaba (IJT), were protesting against bulldozing of a resolution in favour of student unions by the Sindh Assembly, ‘flawed’ intermediate exam results, and a plan to appoint bureaucrats as vice chancellors of public sector universities.

Chanting slogans and carrying banners and placards, the students moved towards the Arts Council Roundabout taking the route of Din Muhammad Wafai Road from the KPC.

Heavy contingent of police tried to stop the charged students outside the press club, but allowed them to march after a brief scuffle and negotiations.

The students agreed that they would hold the demonstration at Arts Council Roundabout.

Addressing the protesters, Karachi JI chief Monem Zafar criticised the Sindh Assembly for bulldozing the resolution in favour of student unions.

He also condemned the Sindh government’s plan to “politicise” university appointments, and vowed that such actions would not be allowed.

“The Pakistan Peoples Party is treating universities as its personal property and the Higher Education Commission has also expressed reservations about the actions undermining university autonomy,” he said.

The IJT Karachi president, Aabish Siddiqui, also spoke.

Later, talks were held between the Sindh government and student representatives.

A statement issued by the IJT claimed that the government assured the students that their representatives would be included in drafting of a code of conduct for student union elections after which the protest was called off.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2025