On Monday and Tuesday, 20th and 21st September 2021, students continued the IBA protest. These protests have come in response to the DC committee’s proceedings in the Mohammad Gibrail case. Though we wait on the DC committee’s decision on the case, protests have continued. All of this started with a Facebook post. Mohammad Gibrail had written a Facebook post against a reported harassment incident he had witnessed before it was seconded by many other students. Click on this link to know more about how it all started.
The protests on Monday and Tuesday saw a large turnout as the crowd gathered at Student Center. It is here the crowd presented its demands and Mohammad Gibrail delivered his speech: both of which can be seen below.
As the protest happened in IBA…
The students then marched from Student Center to AdamJee foyer as an increasing number of students joined the march. The crowd’s number, close to 250 as per our sources, chanted many slogans.
“Azaadi Azaadi Azaadi!” “Aurat Ko Haq Dou!” “We Want Justice ! Jena Hoga Marna Hoga, Dharna Hoga ! Dharna Hoga” were some of the more prominent slogans of the crowd. The students here were met by some members of administration, as reported to us. However, there were no signs of mediation during, or after, the protest.
The students then marched from the Foyer to protest in front of the IBA Fauji building where most Administration offices are. The tenacity of the chants, even under the melting sun, never mitigated. This enthusiasm and solidarity continued on Tuesday although the number of students had marginally decreased. Nonetheless, the attention towards this issue keeps circuiting around social media platforms including videos seen below.
So What Now…
These protests are the first of their kind at IBA as the institution battles with challenges posed by COVID-19. However, the protests present a different kind of issue that the institution must adapt to tackle. They ask for a permanent change in the way things are done and yet, has always been eluded. As we all recognize the pressing issues we face at IBA, it is important we don’t lose the larger picture.
As students of IBA, we want the institution to be a safe and healthy place for its student body especially those who we want to welcome into our fraternity this year. In the same breath, we must then recognize that it is not Us v/s Them, but rather, me, you, and everyone: all in this together. In these testing times we must all band together both, as students and administration, trying to actively be better and more aware, every single day.
