Balochistan: Student Organisations Start Joint Protest Against Closure of BMC

QUETTA: Pashtun and Baloch student organisations in Balochistan have established a protest camp in front of Bolan Medical College (BMC), protesting the ongoing closure of the college, police occupation of the hostels, and abuse of students.

The protest camp, which began following the closure of the college and the raid on student hostels by the police, will remain in place until the demands of the student organizations are met.

In a joint press conference held at the camp, student leaders strongly criticised both the college administration and local district officials for their handling of the situation. The speakers revealed that the closure of Bolan Medical College has lasted for several days without justification, and the police occupation of hostels has created severe disruptions for the students.

According to the student leaders, the situation has left students stranded and facing significant hardships.

The student organizations presented their demands, which include:

1. The immediate reopening of Bolan Medical College and the hostels.
2. Swift action against the district administration responsible for student abuse.
3. The return or compensation for stolen items from the hostels, including mobile phones and laptops.

The student leaders further revealed that during the police eviction of the hostels, officers forcibly broke doors and caused damage to students’ personal belongings. As a result, several students sustained injuries, while some were arrested, only to be released later.

In their statements, the student organisations expressed concern that the closure of the college could lead to the loss of an entire academic year for many students. With exams underway for some students and practical assessments still pending for others, the organisations criticised the college administration for setting an arbitrary deadline of March for reopening, which they deemed unacceptable.

The student organisations condemned the police actions as a deliberate attempt to cause divisions between Pashtun and Baloch students. They described the raid as part of a broader effort to militarise educational institutions. “We want to see our educational institutions as centres of peace and learning, not as battlegrounds for police action,” a student leader remarked.

The student organisations issued a warning, stating that if their demands are not met, they will escalate their protest, spreading demonstrations across other educational institutions in Balochistan. The protests, they added, will continue until those responsible for the incident are held accountable and their demands are fully addressed.