SWAT: Scores of students of Postgraduate Jahanzeb College took to streets here on Saturday to protest what they called forced transfer of one of their teachers to Kabal Degree College.

Led by the students of political science department, they opposed political interference in the college and blocked Saidu Sharif Road to all kinds of traffic.

Maaz Khan, a student of political science department, expressed dismay over the transfer of teacher. He said that their lecturer Farzand Ali Khan Yousafzai was transferred following a complaint was lodged by a Class-IV employee to local MPA.

The protesters demanded immediate return of their teacher to the college. They said that his transfer was politically motivated.

“It is disgraceful that a highly respected teacher can be transferred due to the influence of a Class-IV employee with political backing,” said Maaz Khan.

The students threatened that protests would escalate across the province if their demands were not met within three days. They said that the teacher was supervising scores of research studies in the college. They said that after his transfer, it would affect their research.

Haris Badshah, representing Pakhtun Students Federation, said that the protest was only a beginning. He said that they would expedite their protest if their demand was ignored.

The students warned the government to end political meddling in educational institutions.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2024