Quaid-e-Azam University has accepted most of the demands of the protesting students and issued a notification after late-night negotiations with the ICT administration while MDCAT students gave 24-hour ultimatum for acceptance of their demands and continued their peaceful sit-in at D-Chowk of Islamabad on Thursday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The QUA notified to keep unchanged students welfare fund and library funds as per the previous year while QUA will only increase five percent fee on the new admissions/enrollments. 

The varsity has decreased the ‘departmental fee’ to Rs6,000 yearly and the library fee on a permanent basis at Rs5,500.

Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Hamza Shafqat held an hour-long session with student representatives of Quaid-e-Azam University. 

He said, “Alhamdolillah majority of the issues resolved. Young student leaders and the University Admin have shown vision and magnanimity for the resolution of issues. Insha'Allah from tomorrow routine will be restored.”

https://twitter.com/hamzashafqaat/status/1443285415516016640  

While MDCAT students are continuing their sit-in at D-Chowk and announced not to go towards Parliament House.

The students made announcements after preliminary successful negotiations with the ICT policy and administration. 

On Wednesday night, ICT police baton-charged protesting students and made several arrests.

MDCAT students are protesting against alleged irregularities of the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) and demanding a new exam for the MDCAT test.

Students chanted slogans against the Interior Minister also. PPP leader Agha Rafiullah also reached the protest site and had a verbal brawl with the police personnel. 

Pertinent to note that it has been a week now that MDCAT students are protesting in the capital against PMC.

It is relevant to note that MDCAT students are also protesting in Quetta on daily basis in front of the Quetta Press Club. 

There were three protests—two of them were QUA students and MDCAT students and traders were also protesting against FBR—and only MDCAT students’ sit-in continued on Thursday.

Islamabad Additional District Magistrate Rana Waqas said, “Protestors might have won negotiations but what’s better than half faith? This is Constitution Avenue after Traders Protests. CDA sanitation are on its way to clean.”

https://twitter.com/rmwaq/status/1443291314909597697

A social media trend #StudentsMarchtoPMHouse and #ShameonISBPolice also remained among top Twitter trends. 

Activist Jibran Nasir said, “Why are our students denied the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, protest and unionize? Why are they denied any platform to become stakeholders in decisions impacting their future? With every unsolved crisis more and more students are becoming disillusioned.” 

https://twitter.com/MJibranNasir/status/1443287235839905795 

 

Reporter Saghir Chaudhry