Inaam Tarin, chairman of the Pashtun Students Council at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, warned that protests will continue until student housing needs are met and the government provides funds for new hostels. Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club alongside vice presidents Dadullah and Fatima, he said hostel and accommodation are basic rights for students.
Tarin noted that more than 14,000 students are enrolled at the university while hostel capacity serves only about 1,500 students. The overwhelming majority of students are forced to live in informal settlements around the campus, creating severe hardship and insecurity for those without on-campus housing.
He said the Capital Development Authority and university administration issued a two-day notice on January 8 to vacate and demolish nearby residential units, a move that coincides with annual examinations. Students preparing for exams fear significant academic harm and disruption if they are forced to leave their accommodation during this period.
The students council stated that neither CDA nor the administration has offered an alternative solution for displaced residents. The vice chancellor has reportedly written to relevant authorities requesting funds for the construction of new hostels, but no response has been received so far. In response to the mounting pressure, the council announced a protest and a university-wide strike that has entered its second day.
Tarin emphasized that the demand is clear and singular: provide adequate residential facilities for students. He warned that the strike will not end until tangible steps are taken to secure student housing, and that the federation and allied student organisations will join the action if authorities fail to act.
