Admin blames lawlessness: GCUF closed after students protest

FAISALABAD, The Government College University Faisalabad has reportedly been closed on the orders of the vice-chancellor for an indefinite period because of massive student protests against the enhanced hostel dues, however, the administration blames poor law and order for the closure.

Hundreds of varsity students got infuriated on Wednesday when female borders informed their male fellows that their hostel warden had threatened them with dire consequences and rustication on different charges.

Students of various departments, including boarders and day-scholars boycotted their classes protesting the alleged threats to students and misbehaviour of hall warden with those who joined the protest.

The students gathered on the campus and after taking a round of the academia besieged the VC office for about five hours. They were chanting slogans against the ‘wrong approach’ of the administration.

The varsity officials tried to pacify the students saying the vice-chancellor had already accepted their demand for cut in hostel dues and a notification to this effect would be issued shortly. However, the students insisted that the VC should first terminate the services of lady hostel warden who misbehaved with girl students.

Talking to reporters, female students alleged that warned had threatened them with dire consequences if they joined protest. The warden also threatened that administration would call girls parents, the students alleged.

Owing to the protest, the administration locked all varsity gates and did not allow anyone, including students, to enter or leave the campus.

The gate closure created problems for the girl students who had to wait at the varsity entrance.

Later, the students marched towards the main varsity gate to stage a sit-in on Jhang Road. They also broke open the gate locks.

Sensing the situation, the VC himself approached the protesters and offered to issue revised hostel fee notification immediately. During the VC’s address to protesters, a group of MSF students kept chanting slogans in his favour.

Sources said some varsity officials arranged a gathering of MSF to weaken the students’ protest believed to be backed by the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT).

On being informed of the situation, City District Nazim Zahid Touseef visited the varsity and held talks with the protesters. He assured students a probe into the issue would be launched and the guilty would face the music.

The nazim at last got issued a notification of revised hostel dues according to which the administration would charge Rs4,400 for a semester instead of earlier Rs9,300.

Immediately after issuance of the hostel fee notification, the administration issued another one saying the varsity was being closed till further orders because of law and order problem obtaining in the country.

The protesters, however, alleged that the varsity closure was aimed at getting rid of student demonstrations and their demand for action against girl hostel warden. They said it would not be possible for the boarders from remote areas to leave hostels immediately.