Pakistan: Students at University of Agriculture Faisalabad protest against callous Administration

Long power cuts, tremendous hikes in tuition fee and other dues, a ban on student unions, an increasing presence of security forces inside the university and other brutal measures against the students have forced them to come out and protest for their demands.

There have been big protests in recent months inside the campus for their demands. Revolutionary students have distributed anonymous leaflets and pasted stickers inside the campus for their demands which have inspired the majority of them to come out.

On Friday, October 1, 2010 another big protest was held inside the campus led by revolutionary students. The Administration first tried to sabotage it from inside by using right-wing fundamentalist students resorting to rioting and putting on fire security vehicles. But the students refused to listen to these right-wingers. Then the Administration called the police to baton charge and arrest protesting students. The students with their courage and determination stood firm against this onslaught and the police had to run from the campus. After that the Vice-Chancellor appeared on the scene and made some promises to cool down the students and then vanished. No promises have been met yet and the students are preparing for more agitation and protests inside and outside the campus.

The University of Agriculture Faisalabad is one of the largest higher education centres in Pakistan. It receives large funds from the government and international donors to provide state of the art equipment for research and big sums of money to provide a comfortable living as well as learning environment.

But the conditions of the students are pitiful, with electricity load shedding, ever increasing tuition fees, shrinking space in the hostels (10 students living in a room which has the capacity of only 4). There is no student representation in any of the decision making bodies. The Vice-Chancellor and his protégés are working like a mafia extracting every possible rupee to fill their pockets.

The conditions of the students were never really been very good, but after the coming of this Vice-Chancellor (Rana Iqrar Khan) they became even worse, because he got this “charming” post not on merit but was imposed from outside. So from the start he behaved like a dictator, always behaving arrogantly with the students. He bestowed showers of money on his flatterers and relatives. In the last three years, every single contract for any sort of new construction was given to his brother. He built cricket pitches, basket ball grounds, car parks and pavements, but this is not what the students needed. They want spacious hostels, electricity, good food, comfortable learning and living conditions.

In the last three years, every step which the VC had taken was always against the popular will of the students. So all these things contributed to flaming up the students bit by bit and finally last Friday night a spontaneous reaction burst out against the Administration, specifically against the Vice-Chancellor. Students chanted slogans against the Administration while as rally just stopped in front of the VC’s home. Students wanted to see him and to tell him their problems but he refused to come out which made each and every student even angrier.

Trying to exploit the occasion, right-wing fundamentalist students turned to rioting. The VC used this as an excuse to call the police inside the campus. But those moments belonged to the students, as stones were pelted at the police and police had to retreat to save themselves. At least three times the police tried to enter but every time the students stood up and showed resilience.

The VC came out at 3am while the students were there for about six and half hours. The VC came out and listened to the demands of the students being very “sympathetic” and patient and giving his word that all their problems would soon be solved. The students’ demands were:

1. GRE and SCREENING test before the admission of M.phill should be abandoned.

2. CGPA to enrol oneself in M.Phill should be at least 2.50.

3. Electricity problems should be solved urgently.

4. Increase in Fees should be taken back.

5. Hostel gates should be opened 24 hours a day.

6. Stipends of internship which are 20,000 rupees per student should be released.

7. No security camera should be installed.

That was on Friday but one week later no notification has been released. No demand is accepted. Power cuts are still continuing for up to 12 hours. M.phil students still waiting for a lowering of the CGPA criteria but the list posted ended on 2.90.

There are chances that the VC will take harsh steps against the students and will nominate specific students to face criminal charges. The situation inside the university is very tense. The power which was in the hands of the University Administration is slipping away. The students are determined to take it back. The traditional union of the students here, the Inqlabi Council (Revolutionary Council), is active again after a long period and is being re-organised along true revolutionary lines.

In this hour of need the students of the Agriculture University need support from the students and youth organisations nationally and internationally.

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