The spokesperson for the Baloch Students Organization Azad (BSO-Azad) condemned the termination of scholarships and reduction of quota of Balochistan in universities of Punjab as a ‘state policy’ to academically ‘weaken’ the Baloch youth by shutting the doors of education on them.
In a media statement on Sunday, the spokesperson said that ensnaring the Baloch students in the petty issues of fee and scholarships is an attempt at ‘academically impairing’ the Baloch youth. Abiding by this policy, the state established sporadic educational institutions in Balochistan and barred the students in these institutions from exercising their political, academic and creative skills. The security forces have ‘forcibly detained’ hundreds of Baloch students and thrown the mutilated dead bodies of several others.
The statement further said that the owing to the lack of educational institutions in Balochistan, Baloch students had to move to Punjab for quality education, but had to face discrimination and were even attacked by other student organizations. When all the state shenanigans failed, the state resorted to terminating the scholarships for Baloch students and reducing the quota of Balochistan in universities of Punjab, the statement read.
The spokesperson concluded that despite all the hardships, the Baloch students have persevered. Ignoring all the injustices, Baloch students have always struggled for their rights. The students in Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, are undertaking a long march towards the federal capital, Islamabad, via Lahore for their rights. We appeal to all the ‘oppressed nations’ to support Baloch students in their time of need.