HU admin demands judicial commission, release of students

 Death of two students

MANSEHRA: All the deans and heads of the teaching and administrative departments of the Hazara University (HU) at an emergency meeting on Monday expressed grief over the recent killing of two students in an untoward incident and condemned the subsequent police and district administration for “barbaric” action.

According to a press release, the vice-chancellor presided over the meeting. The participants expressed deep sorrow on the death of two students outside the university premises, prayed for the departed souls and extended condolences to the bereaved families.

The participants demanded immediate and unconditional release of the students who were still in custody of police. The participants requested the higher authorities to constitute a high level judicial commission to find out the factual position and take appropriate action.

The press release said the participants expressed concern over the insulting attitude and high-handedness of the police and district administration. They accused them of mishandling the situation and violating human rights.They said that the university administration had already pacified the situation after successful dialogue with the students protesting outside the premises of the university.

The release said the district management and police deceitfully requested the university administration to gather the representatives of the students in the university guest house. All of a sudden they started thrashing the students and arrested them in the presence of the vice-chancellor, registrar and other faculty of the university.

The participants condemned the insulting behavior of the Superintendent of Police Rauf Qaisrani, who accompanied by a heavy contingent of police, allegedly said: “I am the law and I am the act of the university”. He also ordered the vice-chancellor and registrar to immediately report to his office.

Through a resolution the participants demanded the provincial government to exercise authority and release all the arrested students.They said the erring police and district administration officials should be suspended forthwith and necessary disciplinary action initiated against them;

The provincial government was asked to open the university as soon as possible; The media was requested to play a positive role to highlight the factual position for the general public and in the best interest of the higher education in the area.