Students of Bolan Medical College in Quetta have announced plans for a large-scale protest movement against the prolonged closure of their institution, which has left hundreds of medical students at risk of losing their academic year.
The college, Balochistan’s largest medical institution, was closed by authorities six months ago following a minor administrative dispute. Students allege that local police shut down the campus and hostels under government orders and have since repeatedly delayed reopening under various pretexts, including “repair and allotment issues.”
Students claim the Balochistan Health Department has kept the college shut indefinitely “without clear justification,” severely jeopardizing their future.
Students further alleged that many of them come from remote areas and lack political backing, which they believe is why the government is not prioritising the issue. “Since the government sees no political benefit in reopening the college, it continues to neglect our education.”
In an earlier incident, the college’s vice principal was detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law after speaking out publicly against the prolonged closure.
Four-phase protest announced
Students have now unveiled a four-stage protest campaign, starting immediately with a social media drive to raise awareness. This will be followed by demonstrations at press clubs across Balochistan’s various districts.
A sit-in protest is then planned in front of Bolan Medical College in Quetta, after which students have pledged to independently resume classes without official permission through “self-help measures.”
In a stark warning, students said that if the government does not respond swiftly by reopening the college and its hostels, they would be forced to escalate their protest by blocking major highways throughout Balochistan, involving parents, civil society, political parties, and student groups.
“We appeal to all students, irrespective of their background, to see this as our collective educational crisis,” a student spokesperson said, urging participation across ethnic and political lines.
They also called on political parties, civil society groups, and social organizations to “break their silence” and support the students’ demands to save their academic year.