LAHORE, May 21: The Allama Iqbal Medical College students on Wednesday demonstrated in front of the press club against the college’s compulsory affiliation with the University of Health Sciences and raise in hostel fees.

The students were holding banners and placards emblazoned with ‘compulsory affiliation with the UHS is a cruel joke with the future of medical students’ and ‘do not gamble with our future’ and ‘withdraw 450 per cent increase in hostel fees.’

They demanded the government that it should immediately withdraw increase in hostel fees. They also criticized the authorities concerned for not paying heed to their problems.

The protesting students said the college administration had also issued a notice to their parents to submit fees till May 24, otherwise, their children would be expelled. They said their parents were worried after receiving notices.

They said the government had failed to listen to the students’ point of view on the issue of compulsory affiliation with the UHS. The students were demanding that those already registered with the Punjab University should be allowed to appear in the PU examinations.

The medics also demanded the Punjab chief minister and health minister they should take stock of the situation and direct the college administration to stop demanding increased fees from students.

AIMC deputy dean Prof Dr Imtiaz Rasool had issued an office order, directing all the students of first year MBBS class session 2002-03 of the college, who are desirous of allotment room in the hostels, to deposit the complete hostel fee of Rs17,500 with the college office by May 24.

He said the students who had already deposited Rs4,950 would deposit the remaining amount of Rs12,480 by May 24.

Meanwhile, Punjab Health Minister Dr Tahir Ali Javed has called AIMC/Jinnah Hospital principal executive officer Prof Dr Sibtul Hasnain and directed him to stop harassing students.