Pakistan, Nov. 30 -- Harassment, intimidation by university administration, ever-rising university fees, crumbling infrastructure and facilities, and the criminalisation of students compelled a large number of students to stage a demonstration on Friday to press authorities for restoration of student unions that had been banned for over two decades.

A large number of students belonging to various councils gathered outside the National Press Club Islamabad. They included Progressive Students Federation (PrSF), Revolutionary Students Front (RSF), All Baltistan Movement (ABM), Baloch Students Organisation and Jammu Kashmir All Students Federation, besides other progressive student organisations. Minhaaj-ul-Arfeen, a representative of one of...