HRCP urges PU to address students’ issue

LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed concern over the recent actions of the administration of the Punjab University against a number of students.

In a statement issued on Monday, the commission said: “HRCP has expressed serious concern over alleged ‘mistreatment’ of Pashtun and Baloch students by the administration of the Punjab University.”

On January 22, 2018, there was a clash between different student groups at Punjab University’s Quaid-e-Azam campus in Lahore, following which a crackdown was initiated against the students alleged to have been involved in the incident. Cases were registered against a number of students and more than 200 students were arrested.”

The administration of Punjab University expelled a number of students on February 17. The students who have been expelled and suspended have been protesting the decisions against them for more than a week now.

The protesting students demand that the decisions of their suspension and expulsion should be taken back and they should be allowed to attend their classes. They also demand that the cases registered against them should be withdrawn as promised. The HRCP urges the university’s administration to take immediate measures to address these valid and serious concerns. The HRCP also calls on the university’s administration to engage the protesting students and initiate a process of dialogue with them as soon as possible.