FAISALABAD, Sept 23: The students action committee of the Punjab Medical College has decided to hold a sit-in and set up hunger strike camp in front of Parliament House in protest against the government decision to affiliate their institution with the University of Health Sciences.

Speaking at a news conference here on Tuesday, committee president Ataul Haq Qasmi, secretary Muhammad Irfan and others said that the provincial government had forcibly affiliated all medical institutions with the UHS just to please its Vice-Chancellor Dr Mubashar, said to be a close associate of the Punjab governor.

They alleged that the government was adopting negative tactics to ensure forcible affiliation of all medical colleges of the province with the UHS which was in violation of rules.

“The future of all medical students is at stake because no renowned institution of the country as well as any foreign university is ready to recognize the degree issued by the UHS, they said.

The student leaders said that the Supreme Court had directed the Punjab government to enrol the PMC students with the PU. It had also directed that the PU should issue degrees to PMC students. But the authorities concerned refused to implement the Supreme Court orders.

They alleged that the PU Vice-Chancellor seconded all wrong doings of the government just to get two-year extension in his tenure. They said that the PMC students have been boycotting their classes for the last 15 days and holding protest demonstrations against the affiliation of the PMC with the UHS.