The University of Balochistan (UOB) academic staff has given a 24-hour ultimatum to the government of Balochistan for the safe release of the missing professors Liaquat Sani, vowing to carry out protests if the government fails to meet their demands. Student organizations, prominent politicians, activists and politicians have also condemned Sani’s “enforced disappearance” in strong terms demanded his immediate release.
According to the details, president of the academic staff association has given a 24-hour ultimatum to the government for the recovery of missing Liaquat Sani, the head of the Brahui department in the University of Balochistan, who disappeared near Mastung under mysterious circumstances on Saturday.
Liaquat Sani, a professor and a venerable academic, was travelling from Quetta to Khuzdar with two fellow professors but went missing along the way. The other two professors — Nizam Shahwani and Shabir Shahwani — have said that unidentified armed men intercepted their vehicle and took them away at gunpoint. They subsequently released the other two professors, but kept Sani in confinement.
Addressing a press conference in Quetta Press Club, President of the academic staff association Dr. Kaleemullah Baloch, Dr. Manzoor Baloch, Controller UOB Dr. Ain-Ud-Din Agha, General Secretary of BPLA Aarif Baloch and several other prominent academics and scholars resented that the government’s “indifference” has jeopardized the safety of intellectuals and academics in Balochistan.
The president of the Association appealed to the public to raise voice for the safe recovery of the missing professor. He gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the government to ensure the recovery of Sani, vowing to boycott the examinations and organizing protests and rallies if the government fails to meet their demands.
Various teachers’ associations and student organizations also condemned the disappearance of Prof. Liaquat Sani, saying that students and academics of Balochistan consider themselves at risk due to the “inability” and “failure” of the government. They said that teachers are considered the architects of the future, but the architects themselves are in danger in Balochistan. They said that such disappearances are a plot to distance the people of Balochistan from education.
Prominent politicians and political parties have also condemned Sani’s disappearance. Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the “enforced disappearance” of Liaquat Sani in a statement issued on Sunday and demanded his “freedom restored without any delay.” The “incident of kidnapping of three professors of the University of Balochistan was highly condemnable act and appears to be aimed at further alienating the people of the province”, he said.
Ghulam Nabi Marri of the Balochistan National Party also condemned Sani’s disappearance as an “anti-education” measure and vowed that they won’t rest until his recovery is ensured. Marri said that that the condition of education in Balochistan is already abysmal: hundreds of thousands of children are out of schools and academic institutions are abjectly under-equipped.
He said that the students, academics and intellectuals are victims of a well thought out plot orchestrated by the “anti-democratic” elements aimed at distancing the people of Balochistan from education and subsequently defalcating their natural resources. He said that we won’t remain silent in the face of the conspiracies and tactics.
The former member of the National Assembly of Pakistan Sardar Kamal Khan Bangulzai condemned the disappearance of Liaquat Sani and appealed to the government to take notice of the “negligence” of the district authorities and ensure the safe recovery of the missing professor. He said that this incident is “unfortunate” and “contemptible” and has raised questions on ourselves as a society.
Bangulzai said that the incident reflects the devastation of our society. He said that we won’t tolerate the negligence of the authorities, and appealed to the government to ensure the recovery of the missing professor.
Former Chief Minister of Balochistan Nawab Aslam Raisani said that we know the forces and the motive behind the “abduction” of Prof. Liaquat Sani. He also demanded the immediate recovery of the professor.
Lashkari Raisani, a prominent figure in BNP-Mengal, condemned Sani’s “abduction” and said it if any ill befall the professor, the government will be responsible. He said that “non-elected” elements are operating in Balochistan and are interfering in its administration. He also demanded the safe release of Liaquat Sani.