Students in Uthal and Quetta continued their protests on Friday against enforced disappearances and the closure of Bolan Medical College (BMC) and its hostels.
In Uthal, students at the Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water, and Marine Sciences (LUAWMS) have been protesting for six days. They are demanding the recovery of their missing peer, Bayandur Baloch.
Bayandur, a student in the university’s Agriculture Department, was reportedly detained with three friends from Uthal Bazaar a few days ago. While his friends were later released, Bayandur remains missing.
A sit-in has been set up outside the university. It has been joined by Bayandur’s father, who has expressed concerns about his son’s safety and called for his immediate release.
The protesters have boycotted classes and exams. They accuse the university administration of pressuring them to attend midterm exams despite their ongoing protest.
Meanwhile, in Quetta, students at Bolan Medical College (BMC) have been protesting for nine days. They are demanding the reopening of the college and hostels, as well as the release of detained students.
The protesters allege that police and administrators have collaborated with security forces to “occupy” the hostels illegally.
“This demonstration is a fight for our rights,” said one protesting student. “We will not back down under any circumstances.”
The students warned they would escalate their protests across Balochistan if their demands are not met. “This sit-in will continue until the hostels and college are reopened, and detained students are released,” they added.