By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi
LANDI KOTAL: Students of Landi Kotal Postgraduate College took to the streets at Bacha Khan Chowk in Landi Kotal Bazaar on Friday, staging a protest against the provincial government’s decision to affiliate their college with FATA University. The students, led by Raj Wali Shinwari and others, voiced their dissatisfaction, stressing that the already burdened students would suffer further under the new affiliation.
Addressing the protest, the students expressed deep concerns over the impact of the decision, stating that the affiliation with FATA University could endanger the academic future of 500 students. They argued that their current affiliation with Peshawar University had been satisfactory, and a shift to FATA University was unwarranted. “We are already dealing with multiple challenges at the college,” said Shinwari, who added that the decision to affiliate with FATA University was met with widespread rejection from the student body.
The protesters called on the local Member of the National Assembly (MNA), Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA), and the education department to intervene and reverse the decision. The students warned that unless their demands were met, they would escalate their protest by launching an indefinite sit-in, vowing to continue until the authorities retracted the decision.
The issue has sparked a growing sense of unease within the student community, who believe that their academic careers and future prospects hinge on retaining their existing affiliation with Peshawar University. The protest signifies a strong resistance to the government’s educational policies, particularly in regions like Landi Kotal, where students are demanding a say in decisions affecting their academic journey.
