LARKANA: Students and activists of the Jeay Sindh Students Federation (JSSF) staged a sit-in outside the VC secretariat of Shaheed Moh­tarma Benazir Bhutto Me­d­i­­cal University (SMBBMU) here on Wednes­day in protest against a university decision to rusticate three students of Bibi Assefa Dental College, Larkana.

About a month ago Kashif Shar, Ghulam Hussain Gamb and Zain Khaskehli of Bibi Aseefa Dental College, a constituent unit of the SMBBMU, were rusticated for one and two years on the recommendation of a committee that had evaluated their performance and attitude towards the teaching staff.

Led by Amjad Mahisar, Safdar Tunio, Athar Soomro and Ms Sarkash Nayab Sindhi, the protesters were chanting slogans, carrying banners and placards. They demanded that the university managers take back the decision.

The sit-in which continued for one hour interrupted the vehicular traffic on a key artery of the city. Realising the gravity of the situation, DSP Yar Muhammed Rind and the Rehmatpur SHO engaged protesters in talks to pacify them, but they refused to end the protest and clear the road.

They insisted that the decision be rolled back, saying that nothing short of it would be acceptable to them. They blamed the university management for victimising and targeting students who had been criticising the managers for their ineptness in getting the college recognised from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).

Later leaders of the protesters held talks with Prof Sher Muhammed Shaikh, principal of Chandka Medical College, in the office of SP Tauqeer Naeem which remained inconclusive.

Published in Dawn, March 31th, 2016