THERE has been a growing sense of frustration among thousands of students at the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) in Islamabad over the recurring politically motivated strikes that have paralysed academic life on campus.

Recently, the university remained non-functional for several days due to yet another strike called by the Quaidian Students Federation (QSF), a collective of six ethnically-based student councils.

These groups, which claim to represent student rights, have become powerful pressure groups that routinely blackmail the university administration. Their connections with influential bureaucratsand parliamentarians ensure immunity for them, while the rest of the students bearthe consequences.

Classes, research activities, official procedures andjust abouteverything else come to a grinding halt. International deadlines do not pause for the students, and those applying for scholarships or jobs are left behind due to these unnecessary disruptions. Meanwhile, the administration watches passively. The vice-chancellor, in office for two years, has seen such shutdowns happen repeatedly, but has failed to act.

The university campus has effectively become a no-go area for Islamabad police.

If necessary, the federal government must step in with paramilitary support to restore order. This is an educational institution, not a political playground.

The students sinmply want to study, not to be used as pawns in power games.

It is time someone stood up for them.

Haseeb Ahmad Wah Cantt