KU students stage rally, demand withdrawal of fee hike

Karachi 

Students of the University of Karachi (KU), at a demonstration organised by the National Students Federation (NSF) on Friday, demanded an immediate withdrawal of the 70 percent increase in the semester fee.

However, soon after the students reached the administration block, they were warned to call it off by members of the Islami Jamiat-e-Talba (IJT). 

The IJI activists asked the protesting students to wrap it up because they had already protested over the issue and spoken to the university administration, which had given them “some” assurance.

On suggestions for solving the matter through dialogue, they rubbished the option, openly threatening the protest’s organisers and asking them which departments they belonged to.

Criticising the decision, the protesting students complained that increasing the fee at the commencement of every semester had become a norm at the varsity over the past few years.

The protesters called for the university to stop citing a lack of funds as a reason to increase the fee every time and instead arrange them through the authorities concerned. “The students are not responsible for the administrative shortcomings of the varsity,” stated a student, Hasan Baloch.

It was corruption that continued to devour the varsity funds, claimed NSF KU’s unit organiser Laila Raza. If the university administration did not make alternate arrangements to raise funds, it would be held responsible for every student that discontinued their studies, she added.

“These increments have made it impossible for underprivileged students to pursue their education, despite KU being a public university.”

Besides demanding an immediate withdrawal of the hike, the students also called for reimbursing students who had already paid the additional fee.

They demanded clarifying the mechanism for ascertaining the fee structure and notifying all departments every time the structure was changed.

The number of scholarships awarded to students were also demanded to be increased, as was an increase in points and a reduction in fares.  

Commenting on the IJT’s behaviour, NSF Karachi organiser Muzammil Afzal observed that the only way to curb violent politics from campuses was the revival of student unions.

“It is the absence of politics from campuses which has provided a safe haven to goons such as the IJT’s. For them student issues hold no importance; all they want is to maintain their hegemony through spreading fear,” he added.