Staff Reporter
KARACHI: The Saraiki Professionals Forum (SPF) staged a protest outside the Karachi Press Club, raising their voices against the harassment of thousands of female students at Islamia University Bahawalpur. The demonstration, supported by students, members of Saraiki Women’s Association, civil society, NGOs, and prominent personalities, took place not only in Karachi but also in Rahim Yar Khan, Lahore, Tank, and Dera Ismail Khan.
Protesters carried banners and chanted slogans, demanding justice for the affected students.
During the protest, notable figures such as Patron Saraiki Professionals Forum Professor Dr. Abdul Jabbar Khan, Senior Journalist Akhtar Shaheen Rind, Chairperson Saraiki Women Association Karam Akhtar, Parveen Tahir, Makhdoom Muhammad Akbar, Chairman All Karachi Hotel and Restaurants Association Abdul Latif Kaka, political leader Jam Irshad Lar, Pirzada Asjad Advocate, Journalist Shahid Hussain, Mohammad Anwar, Abid Khan, Ahsan Jatoi, Abbas Shah spoke. Senior journalist Syed Nimatullah Bukhari, Saraiki leader Malik Rahmatullah, Seema Ikram, Shaheen Siddiqui, Saira Rind, Sana Rind, Kamran Siddiqui were also present. They passionately urged for an end to the dishonor of the daughters, mothers, and sisters of Saraiki Wasib, emphasizing that girls’ education should never be treated as a crime.
The protesters voiced their demand for the arrest of the accused, Wali Dad Cheema, and his patron federal minister, Tariq Bashir Cheema, calling for an impartial investigation into the incidents and appropriate punishment for those responsible.
The gathering also highlighted the need to eliminate political interference and recruitment in educational institutions.
They stressed the importance of relieving such institutions from the pressure exerted by federal and provincial ministers.
The protesters firmly expressed their solidarity with the oppressed students of Islamia University and vowed to continue their fight for justice until the dignity and respect of female students are safeguarded in educational institutions.