PESHAWAR, Oct 4: Students of the Peshawar University staged a protest demonstration under the aegis of the Muttahida Tulaba Mahaz and the Peshawar University Teachers Association  (PUTA), and observed boycott of the classes against the proposed university model ordinance here on Friday.

The students started the protest march from Islamia College and after passing through Engineering University assembled in front of Students Teachers Centre, where leaders of MTM addressed the protesters.

During the march the students raised slogans against the proposed ordinance and holding placards inscribed with different slogans  against the government and the  university  model ordinance.

The rally was led by MTM leaders included Hafiz Waqas Ahmad, Arshad Baloch, Sajid Hussain, Obaidur Rehman, Abdul Hadi, Aleem- ur-Rasheed, Mohammad Javed and Rafiullah.

Addressing the students, they alleged that the government wanted to make the educational institutions a business venture. Rise in tuition fee and privatisation of educational institutions would make education for the poor masses difficult, they opined.

The students leaders blamed that the government intended to eliminate democratic culture in the educational institutions and abolishing the education  policy-makers’ bodies of teachers — Senate  and Syndicate — was one of its prime concern.

Through a resolution, the MTM demanded of the government to disband the task force on education, review the  proposed university model ordinance.

Talking to Dawn, a final-year student of MA theology, Abdul Hadi, said today’s demonstration was a beginning of the protest movement against the ordinance. “If the government did not review the ordinance, the students will continue the protest till the decision is not reversed.”

PESHAWAR UNIVERSITY: The Progressive Academics of the  University of  Peshawar has expressed their concern over a campaign  against the reforms in the higher education and proposed Model University Act.