UET Mardan students protest independent status

MARDAN: Dozens of students of University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Mardan staged protest and blocked the road for hours here on Tuesday.

A large number of students attended the rally, which passed through different bazaars of the city.

The participants of the rally were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands. The angry students blocked the Shamshi Road outside the Mardan Press Club for more than three hours.

Talking to reporters, the students, including Emad, Aziz, Khalid, Waseem Akram and others, said though the UET Mardan was the campus of University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, the provincial government declared it an independent entity two months ago.

“We want the University of Engineering Peshawar to give us degrees. “We have the receipts of paid fee of University of Engineering, Peshawar,” Emad said. The student leaders said that they had been boycotting classes for the last three weeks but the university administration was not ready to solve the issue.

The students added that there was a misunderstanding between project director, UET Mardan, and Vice-Chancellor University of Engineering Peshawar on the issue.

However, the students dispersed peacefully after the authorities assured them to address the issue. Project Director Dr Imran told them that it was decided that the students of 3rd and 4th semesters would be issued degrees by the UET, Peshawar.