PESHAWAR: An inquiry report into the September 7 student protest and subsequent police intervention at the Postgraduate College of Nursing in Hayatabad has made several key recommendations regarding the college’s administration, students’ grievances and alleged involvement of certain individuals in the protest.
The three-member inquiry committee, constituted by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department, has recommended replacing the college principal, Bibi Sultania, with a more experienced officer possessing stronger administrative skills. It has also recommended replacing the girls’ hostel warden, Mehtab.
The report was forwarded to the Health Secretary on September 8. The committee comprised the Special Secretary Health as chairman, along with the Director General of the Provincial Health Services Academy (PHSA) and the Director General Health Services.
The committee has also recommended the immediate expulsion of two students, Muhammad Siraj and Abbas Khan, over allegations of harassing faculty members, disrupting classes, gathering outsiders and locking the college gate.
However, the report recommended that other students against whom evidence of misconduct or disciplinary violations was found should be referred to the college’s disciplinary committee for determination of responsibility and action under the relevant rules.
The inquiry committee visited the college at around 8pm on September 7 and continued its proceedings until approximately 12:50am. It recorded statements from protesting students and obtained information from the principal, faculty members and other relevant individuals. The committee also inspected the college premises, surrounding areas and the site of the protest.
According to the report, students’ grievances included hostel accommodation, fines, restrictions on leave, examination-related issues, clinical training, mess facilities and alleged inappropriate behaviour and language by some faculty members.
The committee reviewed these complaints as well as the subsequent police intervention and events that followed the protest.
Regarding the girls’ hostel, the committee recommended replacing warden Mehtab with a responsible and capable officer who could ensure discipline while addressing students’ grievances effectively and promptly.
It also recommended replacing Principal Bibi Sultania with a more competent and experienced officer with proven administrative, communication and crisis-management skills.
The report further recommended the immediate removal of male students residing in faculty residential quarters, noting that the accommodation had not been designated as a hostel for male students.
The committee directed the college administration to take effective measures to maintain a conducive, respectful and safe academic environment for all students and to address legitimate grievances through institutional mechanisms.
It stressed that no outsider or student from another institution should be allowed to interfere with or disrupt the peaceful environment of the Postgraduate College of Nursing.
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