12/01/2026
The Decline of Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad: A Call for Reform
My blood boils at how Quaid-i-Azam University has been completely transformed into a hub for hooliganism and dance and musical entertainment, while research and academic activities have been destroyed by ethnic councils. It is shocking that in the name of the "Pashtun Council," a handful of troublemakers have held even the well-mannered Pashtun students hostage. Only those parents who are spending their hard earned life savings on their children's education can truly understand the anxiety that serious students and their families are currently facing.
It has become a routine at the university to hold "Fun Fairs" for various councils multiple times a week. Things have now reached such an extreme that even during annual examinations, exams are postponed through intimidation and bullying.
The question arises: Why has the university’s situation hit rock bottom?
Teacher Indifference: The primary reason is the silence and detachment of teachers regarding the deterioration of the academic environment (Perhaps they're afraid that these student hooligans might come after them). I am afraid that the majority of faculty members seem to consider internal politics and sycophantic promotions as their ultimate goal.
Lack of Accountability: Spoiled students are allowed every kind of misconduct; they have no fear of punishment for breaking discipline. Consequently, the University’s Discipline Committee (UDC) is now treated with utter contempt by these elements.
Weak Leadership: It has been the university’s misfortune for several years to be led by Vice Chancellors whose administrative skills were highly publicized, yet who remained helpless at the hands of rowdy students. They focused on maintaining the status quo and building personal ties with politicians to secure VC positions at other universities.
A Comparative Failure
My stance is that the survival of the university lies solely in the strict implementation of rules and regulations to ensure a disciplined academic environment. The best proof of this is the brief tenure of Dr. Shaista Sohail, a senior HEC officer, who served as Acting Vice Chancellor before the current VC. In just three months, she restored discipline and the academic atmosphere by dealing strictly with disruptive elements according to the law.
Unfortunately, the current VC despite having served as a VC five tenre previously, has trampled over the rules and turned his office into a sanctuary for these elements. As a result, the university is shut down by these groups almost every other day.
The Current Crisis
Today, once again, the Pashtun Council has shut down the university against the will of the majority of Pashtun students. Their current demand is for the university to stop the CDA (Capital Development Authority) from reclaiming state land around the campus. Should it be the objective of any student group to take administrative and land matters into their own hands?
Proposed Solutions
Given the administrative performance of the current Vice Chancellor over the last two and a half years, his immediate removal of the current vice chancellor and the appointment of a highly capable administrator as VC have become essential. To restore peace and to save academic environment the university must be handed over to the Rangers immediately, following the precedent of Karachi University. Otherwise, I fear this "cancer" within the Red Zone will lead to the permanent closure of the university, which would be a massive national tragedy.
Capital Development Authority - CDA, Islamabad
