Medical students protesting against the Medical and Dental Admission Test (MDCAT) and police brutality were once again beaten up by the forces. Dozens of students were injured when Quetta police baton-charged and used tear gas against the protesters. Several students were arrested and taken to the police station.
According to the details, the All Balochistan Students Association carried out a protest in Quetta on Friday against the Pakistan Medical Commission and police brutality. The protestors called on the authorities to prosecute the police personnel who were responsible for beating up the medical students a few days ago during a peaceful protest.
The protestors said that the medical entry test was unjust and had irregularities, which resulted in hundreds of students failing the test. Several students who had not yet attempted the test were declared fail, and many of the questions in the test were out of the assigned syllabus.
The students demanded that the provincial and federal governments must take notice of the issue.
Negotiations continued between the student leaders and the authorities to call off the protests but to no avail. Eventually, the Quetta police resorted to violence to disperse the peaceful protestors in front of the governor’s house. Dozens were arrested and numerous others were beaten up with bludgeons.
Baloch Students Action Committee and Baloch Students Organization said in a joint statement that they will carry out a protest against the violence on medical students.
The videos and photos of the scene went viral on social media and many came forward to condemn the incident and express solidarity with the students. MPA Sannaullah Baloch said in a tweet that it has become the norm for the incumbent government to use violence against peaceful protestors. He called on the authorities to investigate the incident and prosecute the culprits.
BSO-Azad also condemned the violence exercised on students in Quetta. In a media statement, Azad said that “state occupation” is gaining momentum, and no one is safe from it now. The statement read that Balochistan is vastly underdeveloped, and the government’s inability and ineptitude gives rise to a new problem every day.
BSO-Azad said that the provincial government should have resolved the students’ reservations regarding the test. Their recklessness in this regard pushed the students on the roads. The government must immediately release the detained students and withdraw the FIRs registered against them.