Baloch Students Action Committee Criticizes University of Turbat Administration for Suppressing Student Rights

Turbat:The spokesperson of the Baloch Students Action Committee has strongly criticized the University of Turbat administration for pushing the institution to the brink of destruction. According to the spokesperson, the administration, under the guise of discipline, has been using committees to silence students and strip them of their rights. From hostels to classrooms, students’ academic freedom has been curtailed, turning the university into a military-style camp.

The committee emphasized that there is now a ban on setting up book stalls, harassment of students engaging in intellectual and academic activities, and threats against those who raise their voices for their fundamental educational rights. The spokesperson pointed out that when students protest against these anti-education policies, they are subjected to false accusations and threatened with expulsion. Recently, instead of addressing the legitimate demands of peacefully protesting students, the administration has been threatening them with dismissal from the university, which the committee views as a clear indication of the administration’s blatant hostility toward education.

The committee also accused the current incompetent and authoritarian administration of leading the university towards a state of academic collapse. On one hand, the University of Turbat has become a hotbed of corruption, while on the other hand, merit-based practices have been completely disregarded, as evidenced by the hiring and admission process based on favoritism and bribery.

The educational system at the university is deteriorating, and instead of improving the academic environment, the administration is focused on suppressing students’ academic freedom and curbing their political and intellectual activities. The hostels have been transformed into military barracks, and students are under constant surveillance through cameras, a move the committee believes is an unlawful attempt to stifle the students’ voices.

The spokesperson reiterated that universities are places for academic learning and intellectual debates, but unfortunately, in Balochistan’s educational institutions, students are treated as personal property, with various restrictions imposed on them. The spokesperson expressed that Baloch students in campuses are unable to even breathe freely, let alone engage in meaningful academic or political discussions.

The committee criticized the administration’s approach, stating that banning books and engaging in harassment under the pretext of academic activities is nothing but bullying and an aggressive mindset. They further claimed that the administration is complicit in undermining the social and educational progress of Baloch society, and is more concerned with personal corruption and salaries than providing students with quality education.

The committee concluded by calling out the administration for its Baloch-phobic, education-hostile policies, corruption, and the violation of merit, all while unjustly accusing students and expelling them in an attempt to cover up its wrongdoings. This, according to the spokesperson, is a clear reflection of the administration’s anti-student stance.