Protesting medical students complain of govt apathy

Students protesting for 15 days against re-testing to retain their seats

Picture for illustrative purposes only

Students of various medical colleges of Balochistan who have been staging a sit-in outside Quetta Press Club for the last 15 days complain of being ignored by the government.

Medical students of Makran Medical College (Turbat), Jhalawan Medical College (Khuzdar) and Medical College Loralai have staged a sit-in in Quetta against the announcement of a to-be conducted test by the Pakistan Medical Commission to get the three medical colleges registered.

The students argued that with an entry test already being conducted, there was no need for such a test for the previously enrolled students. According to the recent test rules, anyone who fails to clear the test will be struck off the rolls.

One of the protesting students, Hidayat Baloch, said that it was a clear violation of their rights.

“If such a test was to be conducted, why did they waste our years?” he asked.

“If they cannot strengthen our institutions, they do not have the right to worsen them either,” Hidayat complained.

Sajid Akbar, another protesting medical student, seemed unsatisfied with PMC’s decision to conduct the test again and said that the most important thing for the registration of a medical college was the satisfactory status of its hospital.

“Three of the hospitals were visited and no positive response was given,” Akbar said.

The same authorities, later on, said that students got into these colleges through an illegal channel and needed to re-take the test, he added.

“Such a thing had never occurred in any other medical college in Pakistan prior to this,” the protester further said.

He showed concern over lack of attention from the government on the issue. Opposition leader in Balochistan Assembly, Sana Baloch, condemned the carelessness of the government and tweeted “soon have a meeting with PMC head. Such discriminatory policies will not be allowed against Balochistan’s medical students”.

Various students, organizations and parties have visited the camp of the medical students and assured them of their support. Baloch Students Action Committee, Baloch Students Organization, Law Students Alliance, National Democratic Party, students’ councils of Punjab and others guaranteed their support to the protesting students.