BAJAUR: The students of Government Degree College Barang here on Thursday staged a demonstration against the proposed outsourcing of their institution.

Scores of students participated in the protest held outside the college which was later also joined by locals. Carrying placards inscribed with slogans against the ‘privatisation’ of the college, protesters said that the planned outsourcing created serious unrest among people.

They said that the decision of government to outsource the college would add to miseries of students, who were already facing numerous problems. They said that it was the only higher education facility in Barang tehsil.

Protesters claimed that the college did not meet criteria for outsourcing, as it had thousands of students enrolled. They appealed to political and social activists and local lawmakers to play their role and stop higher education department from privatising the college.

They threatened to launch a massive protest if authorities did not reverse the decision.

Meanwhile, police arrested a Class-IV employee of Government Girls College Khar for allegedly harassing a student, officials said the other day.

They said that the incident surfaced a few days ago and police launched efforts to trace the suspect after it was reported on social media.

Sources said that a police team, accompanied by officials of child protection unit, also visited the college and recorded the statement of the victim. The victim, a first-year student, told the team that she was alone in her classroom when the Class-IV employee entered and attempted to harass her.

She informed the college management about the incident. However, sources alleged that the management, instead of taking action, asked her to remain silent.

They said that despite pressure, the student shared the incident with her family members, who made it public on social media.

Police said that the arrested man was sent to Khar police station after registration of a case against him under relevant provisions of law.

They said that higher education department also suspended service of the suspect. People from different walks of life condemned the incident and demanded a free and fair investigation to ensure strict punishment to the suspect under the law.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026