THIS is with reference to the report ‘Premature to say anything about MBBS student’s suicide: police’ (Nov 26). Educational institutions are supposed to be the nurseries meant to groom our future generations – the leaders of tomorrow. They are the ones who lead a country or a nation on the path of progress, and they are the ones who, with their brilliance and achievements, make a country or a nation known across the world.

But, unfortunately, some educational institutions in Pakistan have become places where we have seen young students losing their lives, while those who take such young lives roam around freely. We still remember the brutal rape and murder of Nimrita Amarta Maher Chandani, a BDS final-year student at Bibi Aseefa Dental College (BADC) at the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU). As if this shock was not enough, there is yet another death at the same university. This time it is Nosheen Bukhari, a fourth year MBBS student at Chandka Medical College (CMC).

Nimrita was murdered after rape, while her murderers wanted it to be seen as a ‘suicide’. Although initially and apparently it looked like a suicide case, the final post-mortem report clearly mentioned that she was murdered after having been raped. The question is: what role has the university administration played so far in reaching the truth?

This sad incident has raised multiple questions about the role of the university concerned. Cases like those of Nimrita and Nosheen are of the extreme nature. Is it too difficult for the government and the masses at large to realise that hundreds of such cases happen and are ignored before something extreme happens. Is it too difficult to make out that the atmosphere at the said university is toxic for girl students? What has the administration done apart from turning a blind eye to the problem?

We, the students, demand a thorough probe into the incident so that no one may again fall victim to such crimes. Everyone has the right to feel safe and secure at our universities and pursue higher education without any fear.

Tofeeque Narejo
Jamshoro

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2021