Leaders of the Baloch Students Action Committee (BSAC) have accused the administration of Turbat University of using police and Frontier Corps (FC) personnel to intimidate students protesting against recent disciplinary actions and the suppression of student activism on campus.
During an emergency press briefing at the university, BSAC leaders said that a protest sit-in has been ongoing for the past two days. The demonstration was initiated to demand a review of the university’s disciplinary committee decisions regarding the setting up of a book stall, as well as to address concerns about the profiling and harassment of Baloch students and other fundamental issues affecting campus life.
According to the students, on March 12, after a protest rally, they staged a sit-in outside the university administration block. However, the administration refused to engage with them or address their concerns. In response to what they described as “administrative indifference,” the students escalated their protest on the morning of March 13 by closing the administration gate.
BSAC leaders alleged that when a university delegation finally met with the students, instead of listening to their grievances, officials threatened them with serious consequences and attempted to intimidate them by mentioning the involvement of police and FC personnel.
“We believe that for a long time, the suppression of student politics in Balochistan and the effort to keep Baloch students away from education reflect state policies and attitudes,” BSAC leaders said.
Meanwhile, on the evening of March 13, Turbat University’s official social media page issued a statement announcing the rustication of one student and the suspension of five others. The statement further warned that force would be used against the protesting students if they did not end their demonstration.
BSAC leaders condemned the university’s stance, calling the disciplinary actions and allegations against one student baseless. They described the move as an example of “administrative hypocrisy and hostility towards students.”
In response, BSAC issued a strong statement rejecting the university’s threats. “We want to make it clear that we will not be intimidated by such tactics. In fact, the administration’s actions have only exposed its true face and shattered any illusion of its commitment to education or goodwill towards the Baloch people,” the organization said.
BSAC claimed that the university’s policies aim to enforce a complete ban on political activities on campus, a move they declared “completely unacceptable.” They reiterated their commitment to peaceful protest, stating that their primary objective is to foster an academic and intellectual environment on campus.
The students vowed to continue their sit-in at the administration block until their demands are met. “Until the university administration withdraws its statement, accepts our demands, and reviews the disciplinary committee’s decisions, our protest will continue, and the administration block will remain closed. If any violence or action is taken against the students during this time, the university administration will be held fully responsible,” BSAC warned.
Following the university’s statement, BSAC added two new demands to its list. They called for the immediate reinstatement of students whose admissions have been canceled or who have been suspended for a semester. Additionally, they demanded that the university issue an official apology on its social media platforms for what they described as baseless allegations leveled against the students.
In conclusion, BSAC leaders called upon students, faculty members, and the general public in Kech to stand in solidarity with the protesters. They urged people to resist what they called oppressive policies and prevent the university from becoming a space of suppression and intimidation.