KIU students stage protest outside university amid recent fee hike

GILGIT: Students at Karakoram International University (KIU) staged a sit-in protest outside the main gate, boycotting classes over what they termed an “unjustified increase” in fees by the university management.

The protesters closed all entrance gates, halting academic activities, and chanted slogans against the administration, calling the decision highly unfair.

According to student leader Mir Babar, the students had been protesting for two weeks, objecting to the 115% fee increase since 2019, which exceeded the allowed 50% increase (10% annually).

Last year’s protests led to an agreement promising a 15% fee reduction, but this year’s increase sparked the current protest.

However, KIU Public Relations Director Amjad Ali countered that the students were not protesting the fee hike, which he claimed was within the allowed 10% increase.

Instead, he stated they were protesting for the reinstatement of expelled students and bringing outside elements to join the protests.

Earlier, the university expelled 11 students identified as protest leaders for “unlawful activities” that disrupted campus order. Amjad Ali alleged these students chanted vulgar slogans and were caught by the disciplinary committee.

In addition, A meeting was held to discuss the issue, where Advisor to the Vice Chancellor Dr. Arif Hussain briefed on the students’ demands: reversing the fee hike, reinstating expelled students, and extending the time for monthly tests. While the meeting agreed to two demands, the fee hike would not be reversed.

Moreover, Amjad Ali clarified that the fee increase was uniformly applied at 10% across departments and was necessary due to increased salaries for 750 employees (Rs 84 million) and financial burdens from three sub-campuses opened by the G-B government and HEC in Hunza, Diamer, and Ghizer.

Regarding research grants, he noted  Innovation, and Commercialization (ORIC’s) success in publishing 250 research articles but explained the income-sharing policy favors researchers (70:30). On law enforcement presence on campus, Amjad Ali stated the Vice Chancellor discourages the approach to call rangers due to its negative impact.