By: Arshad Jan
Dozens of graduated students from Khyber Medical University’s (KMU) Swat Campus staged a protest at the main Chowk of Matta tehsil, demanding paid internships. The demonstration, which included banners and slogans against KMU officials, resulted in the temporary closure of the main Kalam road.
Speakers addressing the protesters emphasized that despite being admitted on merit, students from the Swat campus are denied paid internships, which are instead offered to students in Peshawar. They mentioned that KMU provides 100 seats for paid internships annually, but these opportunities are not extended to students from the Swat campus.
The protesters claimed to have met with the vice-chancellor and registrar in Peshawar, but their efforts were unsuccessful, prompting them to take to the streets. Rafiq Iqbal, one of the protesting students, stated that the protest has been ongoing for four days, during which they had closed their campus, but received no positive response.
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Iqbal expressed frustration that neither the registrar nor director visited them to address their concerns, forcing them to block the main road. He warned that if their demands are not met, they will resort to sit-ins. Another protesting student, Raheel Khan, questioned the unequal treatment, asking, “We were admitted on the same merit as others, so why are we not treated equally?”
Khan emphasized that their demand for paid internships is a legal right, and if it is deemed illegal, the university should issue a notification to that effect. However, if it is a legitimate demand, they deserve equal opportunities. Khan also alleged that despite informing the relevant authorities about their peaceful demonstration, they were met with police brutality and mistreatment.
