Students in Quetta protest against PMC MDCAT tests
Manan Mandokhail :
A large number of students staged a protest demonstration against medical tests conducted by the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC). Students blocked the main chowk near the chief minister’s secretariat and governor’s house.
“We want justice”, Niamatullah, a protesting student said. The protesters staged a sit-in at the chowk and suspended all kinds of traffic. A large number of female students also joined the protest demonstration.
“PMC has deprived talented students of Balochistan of their seats”, Saadia, a female protester lamented. She said PMC has adopted a step-motherly treatment towards Balochistan and deprived commented students of their rights.
Protesters reach the red zone of Quetta
The protesters also chanted full-throated slogans against the Balochistan government. They demanded of Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan to take up the issue with PMC and the federal government.
“Where is our provincial government, whey it is not paying any heed to our protest”, Muhammad Zubair, another protester said. The protesters were also carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans against PMC and Balochistan government.
Nasrullah Zarai, a member of the provincial assembly from Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) also joined the protest. He lashed out at the provincial government and endorsed the demand of the protesting students.
PMC has launched country-wide tests for admissions in medical colleges across the country. So far, very few students from Balochistan have passed the examination. However, most of the students complain that the test was out of the course and termed it the underlying reason behind not qualifying.
Students in Balochistan have been protesting against PMC for the last ten days. Moreover, the provincial government has not taken any initiative to convince the students to end the protest. The city witnessed the worst traffic jam on Thursday as a result of the students’ protest in the Red Zone of the provincial capital.
