Bolan Medical College Students Protest Against Ongoing Closure and Educational Crisis

Quetta:Students of Bolan Medical College (BMC) have expressed serious concerns regarding the ongoing closure of the institution, which they say has been non-functional for the past six months. In a statement, the students pointed out that the province’s largest medical institution has been rendered inactive, drawing a parallel to the more than 3,000 closed primary schools across the province.

According to the students, the closure followed a minor dispute six months ago, after which, on the government’s orders, the college and its hostels were illegally shut down with police intervention. Initially, repairs and hostel allotments were cited as reasons for the delay in resuming classes. However, the health department’s authorities have remained resolute in keeping the institution closed without providing any clear justification.

The students argue that the college is predominantly attended by young people from remote areas, who gain admission based on merit rather than political influence, meaning the provincial government likely does not gain direct political benefits from the institution. This, they believe, could be the reason why BMC is being neglected. The students also mentioned that the college’s vice-principal had been sent to jail under the MPO (Maintenance of Public Order) ordinance, possibly for raising his voice against the unjustified closure of the institution.

The students have made it clear that if the situation does not change, they will be forced to take their protests to the streets. They expressed frustration over the complete silence of all political parties in the province on this educational crisis, seemingly treating education as a non-priority issue.

As a result, the students have announced a four-phase protest movement:

1. **Social Media Campaign** against the institution’s fees.
2. **Protests in front of Press Clubs** in various districts.
3. **Sit-in Protest** outside the Bolan Medical College in Quetta and self-organized classes.
4. **Blocking National Highways** in various districts if the government fails to reopen the college and hostels.

The students have urged their fellow classmates across the province to schedule protests at their respective district press clubs and join the movement as a unified cause, regardless of linguistic, organizational, or group divisions. They have also extended an invitation to all political parties, student organizations, and civil society to join the protests and lend their support.