Protesting teachers demand bailout package, permanent solution

QUETTA: University of Balochistan and Biotoms Staff Association staged a protest demonstration under the auspices of the Academic Staff Association aimed at seeking a permanent solution to the financial and administrative crises facing University of Balochistan, Biotoms, sub-campus research centers and other universities. Professor Dr. Kaleemullah Bardich, Professor Sohail Anwar Baloch, Professor Farid Khan Achakzai, Professor Arslan Shah, Professor Hashim Jan Khoso, Akhlaq Achakzai, Dr. Hasrat Shah, Dr. Saeed Ahmad Esot and Professor Sajid Nabi participated in the symbolic hunger strike in front of Quetta Press Club. The central leader of Pashtun Protection Movement, Zubair Shah, coordinator of PTM Quetta, Rehmat Gharsani, Naseeb Abdal, Mir Behrooz Baloch of Naqib Azad Civil Society and Behrooz Lahri, former provincial cabinet of Awami National Party Abdul Ghani Durrani, Farzana Baloch of Baloch Solidarity Committee, Sadia Baloch, Abdullah Safi of Awami Workers Party visited the symbolic hunger strike camp to express solidarity with the protesting teachers. Speaking from the hunger strike camp, Zubair Shah said that on the one hand, there is chaos in the entire country and the youth are suffering from severe disappointment, while on the other the teachers of the universities are not exercising their legitimate rights to hold a peaceful protest for acceptance of their demands. Mir Behrooz Baloch of civil society strongly demanded from the provincial and central government to immediately provide a bailout package for the severe financial crisis faced by Jamia Balochistan, Bitums and other universities. They demanded that the provincial government should immediately take steps to establish its provincial HE, besides allocating at least Rs. 15 billion in the annual budget for a permanent solution of the problem. Prof. Dr. Kaleemullah Bardich, Prof. Sohail Anwar Baloch, Prof. Farid Khan Achakzai, Prof. Arslan Shah and Prof. Abdul Baqi Jatak, Prof. Rahmatullah Achakzai appealed to the teachers of University of Balochistan, Bitums, Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University sub-campuses and research centers to actively participate in the protest camp for their legitimate rights.