ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of students from the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) staged a protest in front of the National Press Club protesting against the administration and eviction from the hostels.
They were joined by representatives from the legal fraternity, civil society, journalists, and other student organizations.
The protest, organized by the Islamic Students Alliance, was against the unjust eviction and relocation of over 4,000 students from IIUI hostels.
The students condemned the university administration for forcefully vacating hostel rooms and removing belongings from hundreds of rooms without prior notice.
The university had issued a sudden notice in August, giving hostel residents only three days to vacate their rooms. This abrupt decision caused panic among students, many of whom were away on summer break, and their belongings were confiscated by the administration if they couldn’t return in time.
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In addition to the evictions, the students also raised concerns over the extra charges for electricity, gas, and transportation imposed by the administration. These costs were already included in the semester fees, but the administration demanded additional payments.
Student leader Umair Malik criticized the administration for its failures, calling the extra monthly charges “unfair” and a “clear sign of the administration’s inability to run the university properly.” He also noted that new admissions in various departments had significantly dropped, with some going from 200 to just 50 students.
Protesters demanded the restoration of hostel seats for students who had already paid their fees and called for an end to the illegal occupation of hostel rooms.
They also urged the administration to prioritize seating for newly admitted and final-year students.