Tensions escalated at the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS) as two faculty members, Sohail Anwar and Akram Baloch, were arrested on the university premises in a fabricated and baseless case.
The arrests sparked outrage from student organizations and academic bodies, who condemned the university’s actions and says that the administration is suppressing dissent and targeting vocal critics.
A student group, issued a statement denouncing the arrests as an attempt by the administration to “sabotage the association and elections”. The panel said that the arrests were “punishment” for their efforts to hold the administration accountable for corruption and irregularities.
“We want to make it clear to the administration that we are determined to expose your corruption, irregularities, and misdeeds, no matter how high-handed tactics you adopt,” the statement read.
The Academic Staff Association University of Turbat (ASAUT) also strongly condemned the arrests, saying that the “incompetent administration” of BUITEMS of resorting to police cooperation to silence faculty members and cover up misdeeds.
“The incompetent administration has resorted to arresting faculty members with the help of puppet police to cover up its misdeeds so that the respected teachers remain silent on the misdeeds of the incompetent administration,” said the ASAUT spokesperson.
The spokesperson further stated that ASAUT has always stood shoulder to shoulder with faculty members in the fight for their legitimate rights and will continue to do so.
Meanwhile, the Baloch Students Organization Panjgur (BSO Panjgur) also condemned the arrests, calling them “extremely shameful and intolerable.” The BSO Panjgur said that the Army apparatus of attacking the “aware class” of Pak-occupied-Balochistan, referring to respected teachers and academics.
This episode sheds light on the broader issue of discrimination and repression faced by dissenting individuals who are vocal and fight injustices. Since Pak Army forcefully occupied Balochistan, basic rights as well as academic freedom and the right to dissent have always come at a price.