VAT on private varsities
20 hurt as students clash with police
UNB
Traffic movement on Rampura Bridge road in the city was disrupted for half an hour yesterday as students of East-West University (EWU) blocked the road protesting the imposition VAT on the tuition fees of private universities, reports UNB.
At least 20 people were injured in the clash, witnesses said.
Witnesses said the EWU students took to the streets near Rampura Bridge around 2 pm protesting the governments move to impose 7.5 percent VAT on the tuition fees of the private universities, disrupting traffic on the busy road.
On information, police rushed in and tried to disperse them, said Abdul Jalil, officer-in-charge of Badda Police Station.
At one stage, the students pelted stones and brickbats at the law enforcers, triggering a chase-and-counter-chase.
Police also charged baton and opened fire on the students to disperse them, leaving 10-15 injured.
Of the injured, some students and a teacher were taken to hospitals.
Traffic movement on Rampura-Badda road was disrupted again around 4:40 pm as the protesting students brought out possessions on the main road in Aftafnagar area.
Witnesses said the students have been chanting various slogans in favor of their demand.
Meanwhile, the university authorities declared the university closed for Thursday following the incident.
On July 4, the NBR issued a notification imposing 7.5 percent VAT on the tuition fees of private universities and medical colleges.
