Zhob Party Objects to Security Forces’ Presence at Government Degree College

Zhob: According to a press release issued by the Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party, the unnecessary intervention of armed security forces at Government Boys Degree College Zhob, and their growing interference in academic activities, has been described as tantamount to destroying the autonomy of the educational institution, the dignity of teachers and the free academic environment for students.

Objection to security forces’ interference

The press release said that visits by armed security forces are spreading fear and panic among students and teachers, adversely affecting the college’s peaceful academic environment.

The statement said educational institutions are centres of learning, research, awareness and intellectual freedom, and under no circumstances should they be handed over to security forces or occupied by them.

The press release said the constitution of the country defines the responsibilities of security forces, under which their task is to guard the borders and maintain law and order within the country. It said that arranging teaching activities, scholarships, workshops and study tours for students in educational institutions is the responsibility of the education department, as billions of rupees are allocated for education every year.

Principal, cameras and demands

The statement said that Principal Abdur Rehman of Government Boys Degree College has, for a long time, been playing the role of a facilitator instead of performing his official duties, and this is affecting the college’s academic activities. Because of these negative activities, the party urged the college’s students, staff and the people of Zhob to raise their voice against Principal Abdur Rehman.

The statement said that during the tenures of previous principals, teaching activities at the college continued regularly, whereas under the current principal, the academic environment has not only been affected but large-scale corruption has also taken place in construction work at the college. The statement demanded that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) investigate the alleged corruption and that the principal be transferred immediately to restore teaching activities at the college.

The press release said that cameras installed in the college’s IT hub have been linked to the cantonment, and videos of female students’ classes are being watched from the cantonment. The party described this as an attack on the honour, dignity and security of female students, and a serious violation of the honour of the entire district, as well as of the chador and chardiwari (the traditional principles of women’s privacy and modesty).

The statement further said that security forces stop professors in front of the college lodge, check their identity cards and, in a derogatory tone, ask where they are going. The party said this behaviour is an insult to the dignity of teachers and to the sacred profession.

The statement said that the selection of 30 students under the pretext of scholarships, workshops and study tours, in order to gain a foothold in the college, is in fact aimed at prolonging interference in the institution and running peaceful academic activities under a colonial agenda. It said this would in future deprive teachers and students of their rights to democracy, political activity, and freedom of speech and expression.

The party appealed to parents to keep their children away from such extracurricular activities and to raise their voices against them.

The statement further said that the Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party will not, under any circumstances, accept the unjustified interference of armed security forces in educational institutions, adding that colleges and universities are centres of learning, research, awareness and intellectual freedom, and cannot be left at the mercy of armed security forces.

At the end of the press release, all political and democratic parties, student organisations, the teachers’ union, the traders’ association, parents and civil society were strongly urged to play their part in stopping the unjustified interference of armed forces at Government Boys Degree College Zhob, and in preserving the college’s autonomy, the safety of students, the dignity of teachers and a peaceful academic environment.