The matric and intermediate students staged a violent protest in Islamabad against traditional physical exams and blocked Faizabad interchange that connects Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The demonstration turned violent and the police resorted to baton charge and shelling while the traffic remained suspended for more than two hours.
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Students ‘physically’ assemble for online exams
The aggravated students gathered at Faizabad intersection that join twin cities to protest against online exams, damaged several vehicles, pelted stones at Islamabad police, and set trees on fire.
The police had to recourse to baton charge and tear-gas shelling in order to take over the situation.
The traffic remained suspended for more than two hours and the citizens faced extreme difficulties in the scorching sun.
On the other hand, several students were booked on charges of riots, vandalism, roadblocks and arson.
Anchorperson Tanzeela Mazhar also tweeted against the violent protest by the students, criticizing demeanour of the ‘future’ of the country.
یہ نئی نسل ہے مستقبل کی معمار ۔۔ ان کو امتحانات کے بغیر پاس ہونا ہے ۔ علم کے بغیر ڈگریاں لینی ہیں اور اعمال دیکھ لیں ان کے ۔ سماجی فاصلے پر کھڑے ، ماسک لگائے یہ بچے کورونا کے خطرے کے تحت حکومت سے تقاضا کر رہے ہیں کہ ان سے امتحانات لئے جائیں ۔
ان کو جوتے لگانے چائیں pic.twitter.com/Kekl8qmh4d— Tanzeela Mazhar (@TenzilaMazhar) May 30, 2021
What triggered protests?
The protesting students were demanding online exams and were of the view that classes were held online due to coronavirus pandemic so the mode of exams should be the same.
The demonstrators demanded the government to revoke its decision of physical presence as they took online classes the whole year and were not prepared for the physical board exams.
The educational institutions were closed in February last year due to coronavirus pandemic and the physical classes remained suspended nearly throughout the year.
Last year, the annual exams were canceled and the students were promoted to the next class based on performance during online sessions.
However, this year, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood announced that no promotion will take place without examination.
This was not the only instance when the students recorded their protest against online exams.
Earlier, the students in Lahore and Islamabad had staged protests for the same cause and nearly 40 demonstrators were arrested by the police.