KARACHI: The student-led protest at the University of Karachi has entered its seventh day after talks between the varsity administration and the protesters bore no fruit.
Students of the University of Karachi are protesting against a 50 per cent late fee, lack of transportation services (points), and poor infrastructure, first at the point terminal and later at the Vice Chancellor’s office.
The university administration halted the operation of student transport services and called back the drivers, leading students to stage a sit-in at the point terminal. A large number of students, chanting slogans like “We want justice” and “Fee hikes unacceptable,” marched into the Vice Chancellor’s office.
Students then held a sit-in outside the Vice Chancellor’s office. In response, Vice Chancellor Dr. Khalid Iraqi offered negotiations to the student leaders. During the negotiations, the student representatives remained firm in their demand to withdraw the 50% late fee and the Rs5,000 readmission fee. However, the Vice Chancellor refused to meet their demands, leading students to continue their sit-in until 8 PM.
Speaking to the media, student leaders refused to back down from their demands, calling the Vice Chancellor’s stubbornness a sign of arrogance. They urged the Chancellor, the Chief Minister of Sindh, and the Minister for Universities to intervene and provide immediate relief to the students.
