MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): As the students of the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UAJK) have warned of launching a state-wide protest movement after Friday’s protest on fee-related issue, the varsity administration has broken its silence on the issue.
The students, while presenting their demands, warned that if their demands were not met, they would close all educational institutions in Azad Kashmir from Monday.
Taking on the issue, the university administration has issued a statement, saying that a total of Rs1.5 million is due as fees for students of the Law Department of UAJK.
As per the university spokesperson, the administration has provided these students with several opportunities to pay the fees, but they have consistently refused to pay.
“The parents have maintained that they have fulfilled their obligation and have provided the fee amount to the students on time,” the university admin maintained.
Instead of resolving the issue of non-payment of fees, according to the varsity’s spokesperson, some students have resorted to mischief and tried to unnecessarily provoke the protest to put pressure on the administration.
Successful negotiations were held between the police and the university administration to resolve the situation peacefully, but some mischievous elements tried to sabotage these negotiations and achieve their nefarious goals.
However, students and civil bodies including Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) condemned the police brutality on the peaceful protestors in UAJK’s City Campus.
During the protest, police baton-charged and used tear gas to disperse the students, which led to the injury and arrest of several students.
Students protest organisers released the statement, having eight demands, hours after the police released all the students.
“If the following demands are not resolved by Monday, students have the right to protest by completely closing all educational institutions in Azad Kashmir for an indefinite period,” the statement said, adding that the current government, Vice Chancellor and administration will be responsible for all these results.
