Baloch Students Action Committee, Baloch Students Council Islamabad, Baloch Educational Council Karachi, Baloch Educational Council Bahawalpur, Baloch Students Council Multan and Baloch Students Council Lyari have jointly organized a three-day hunger strike camp in Karachi, against online classes and fees.
On the first day of the camp, students and people from different walks of life participated in the camp and expressed solidarity with the students.
“We, the students, are demanding our right. We are not against online classes at all but due to lack of facilities we cannot participate in online classes, which puts our academic future at stake,” student leaders said.
They said “From whom should we seek justice? The officials of the Higher Education Commission are well aware of the fact that there is a lack of electricity and internet facilities in remote areas. However, the decision of online classes is contrary to objective facts, which students can’t afford.”
The student leaders further said that through statements, press conferences and protests, we have repeatedly appealed to the higher authorities to formulate education policies keeping in view the objective facts. However, the stubbornness of the Higher Education Commission persists and they accuse students of wanting to pass without the exams.
“We condemn the stubbornness of the Higher Education Commission and want to make it clear through this protest that we want to study, we want to take online classes but first we have to be provided with facilities, the unavailability of facilities and the stubbornness of the HEC is a major obstacle to our education.” Students added.
The student leaders further said, “We want justice. We are protesting for justice in this confined weather and scorching heat. May justice be provided to us.”
“We remind the Higher Education Commission through this protest that the scope of the protest will widen until justice is served. The next course of action will be issued soon at the end of the three-day camp.” Students said.
It is to mention that Balochistan is a vast and rich resource region and most of it is known as B-Area, the least developed and most impoverished, where inhabitants are deprived of all sort of basic facilities, including water-supply, medical, education, electricity and internet.