Intimidation of students

We've all been lamenting that, compared to Lahore and even Islamabad, students in Karachi seem to be very quiescent. It's true that there are many reasons for their inaction (including middle class apathy and even support for the military, the control of MQM and JI of student activity, and the lack of politicization of Karachiites). But one major reason is that the university administrations in Karachi are very hostile to student protests.

IBA students were told unequivocally that protest activity (including wearing black armbands) will be met with immediate expulsion, no questions asked. Now Bahria University has taken it a step further. From a LUMS blog:

A piece of paper titled FLASH, literally threatening students involved in demonstrations and political activities was pasted to walls and passed through the corridors of Bahria University. It stated that those involved would be subject to strict disciplinary actions including but not limited to expulsion, cancellation of degrees as well as legal action. These ‘punishments’ would be for all those wearing black bands and protesting on as well as outside campus. The administration made an even more obvious show of their insecurity as they closed the university on Monday, the day on which a protest organized by Bahria and Air University students was scheduled.

Under these circumstances, trying to mobilize the student body is extremely difficult.