FAISALABAD: Scores of students of the National Textile University staged a sit-in outside the university and blocked traffic on Sheikhupura Road for hours on Monday in protest against the rustication of their fellows.

Chanting slogans against the administration, students demanded restoration of students and appointment of a permanent rector for the university.

The university administration had expelled 12 students on charges of creating unrest and breaching of the peaceful academic atmosphere of the institute.

Six students Muhammad Shahryar Daha, Muhammad Shazal Saleem, Ali Khursheed, Muhammad Toqeer Butt, Muhammad Touseef and Muhammad Luqman Ashraf have been banished from the university for one year.

While six others, Muhammad Aftab Khan, Sumair Ali, Muhammad Noman, Muhammad Selman Ali, Saad Ali and Usman Ayub, have been expelled for six months.

The protesters told reporters that students had boycotted their classes for three days and asked the administration to review the policy of heavy fines on late fee submission as parents sometimes failed to send them money timely.

They claimed that students had neither damaged the university property nor disrupted its atmosphere during the boycott of classes.

“We are protesting peacefully for our legal right because we are unable to pay heavy fines.”

They said the administration expelled all students from the university who had been invited for a dialogue for a solution to the issues.

They said Sargodha Road ASP Amer Saood had persuaded students to hold talks with the university administration.

They said the protest would continue till the restoration of their fellows.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2015

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