| T |
The quiet in the University of the Punjab premises is menacing. It’s an unsettling reminder of the conflict that has brewed between the students and the varsity administration over the recent fee hike.
On September 24, the administration took a hard stance against the protesting students. This disciplinary action, which included fines and probation, has ignited a debate over who is to blame for the campus unrest.
Spokesperson for the PU, Dr Khurram Shehzad, confirmed that 37 students were facing disciplinary action for violating the university rules. Of these, 21 were fined Rs 20,000 each for their alleged involvement in “agitation and violence.” 15 others were placed on a three-month probation. Additionally, a student’s result was withheld, and another was banned from entering the campus altogether.
The goal, according to Dr Shehzad, is to restore order and nudge students towards “responsible behaviour” through a combination of penalties and counselling.
The Islami Jamiat Talaba, one of the most active student groups at PU, views the situation as a campaign to suppress their voice. They contend that the administration is targeting them for speaking out against an “indiscriminate” increase in tuition and hostel fees. They say it is prioritising revenue over the needs of students from middle-class backgrounds.
Highlighting the financial strain, an MPhil student of the Department of Development Communication said their hostel fee had doubled — from Rs 24,000 in 2024 to Rs 48,000 in 2025.
The tuition fee has also seen a significant jump, he added.
The IJT’s argument is that while the university claims to be focused on discipline, it is prioritising revenue over the needs of students from middle-class backgrounds.
Defending the fee hike, Dr Shehzad said, “Back in 2000, a student enrolling in an MSc programme would have to pay Rs 1,200 per year only. That remained unchanged for a long time. But this was not sustainable. Since there was no adjustment for many years, the recent [fee] hike feels sharp.”
Providing context for the university’s financial pressures, the spokesperson said that a major source of revenue — fees from private students taking BA and BSc exams — had been eliminated due to a change in policy. Simultaneously, government funding for higher education has been slashed, shrinking from around Rs 100 billion in 2017 to about Rs 60 billion today. He also noted that the university’s hostels were operating at a loss, offering accommodation at a fraction of the market rate, a model that could not sustain.
The Islami Jamiat Talaba contend that the administration is targeting them for speaking out against an “indiscriminate” increase in tuition and hostel fees. They say it is prioritising revenue over the needs of students from middle-class backgrounds.
Dr Shehzad also mentioned the PU’s recent drive to remove illegal occupants. He said that land worth billions of rupees had been successfully reclaimed. Thereby, a few boys’ hostels were converted into facilities for girls.
Speaking with The News on Sunday, Mehr Zain, the IJT nazim for Old Campus, said that whereas the IJT “initially supported the drive, the administration refused to provide rooms to legitimate occupants, including those from out of town who had enrolled in evening programmes.
“The IJT believes the university’s record revenue is proof of this profit-driven motive,” he said.
| T |
The dispute goes beyond fees, with accusations of excessive policing and suppression of free expression. Fasih-ur Rehman, the IJT spokesperson for PU, claimed that the university “frequently allows police on campus to quell even ‘neutral’ events.” He cited an instance where students had been questioned for participating in a peaceful Defend Pakistan rally.
The two sides offer conflicting accounts of a recent Students’ Rights March. The IJT claims their peaceful march was blocked by armed security guards, leading to a scuffle. The administration, on the other hand, says the IJT’s motive is to get their 100-odd expelled activists reinstated.
The administration alleges that the IJT members were involved in illegal activities, such as renting out hostel rooms and receiving free services, and are now lashing out after losing these privileges.
As a near-deadlock remains, caught in the middle are PU’s regular students who are condemned to navigate uncertainty and tension on campus.
Ahsan Raza is theeditor of Minute Mirror. He can be reached atahsanbudhhotmail.com