PESHAWAR: The protest by male and female students of the Postgraduate Nursing College Hayatabad has intensified, with demonstrators continuing their sit-in at Phase 3 Chowk in Hayatabad.
The students have been staging the sit-in to press for their demands, with the protest now causing significant disruption to traffic in the area.
According to the latest reports, University Road and Karkhano Road have been closed to all types of traffic due to the ongoing demonstration. Long queues of vehicles have formed on both roads, causing inconvenience to commuters.
The development comes after police baton-charged protesting students and arrested several of them during an earlier demonstration at the nursing college.
Police had launched an operation to disperse the protesters, allegedly using batons and force to remove them from the site. Several students were reportedly arrested, while some were allegedly dragged before being taken into police vehicles.
Videos circulating on social media reportedly show police personnel using force against students during the operation.
The students maintain that they were holding a peaceful protest to press for what they describe as legitimate demands. They have accused police of using force instead of resolving the matter through negotiations.
Following the arrests and baton-charge, the students demanded an inquiry into the police action and called for the immediate release of those detained.
The protesters have strongly condemned the use of force, saying that students’ issues should be addressed through dialogue rather than coercive measures.
With the sit-in continuing at Phase 3 Chowk, tensions remain high in the area. The students have indicated that they will continue their protest until their demands are accepted.
The closure of major roads has meanwhile resulted in long traffic queues, with commuters facing difficulties reaching their destinations.
