A second year FA student of Jinnah College for Women, University of Peshawar on Wednesday was dying of cardiac arrest on the premises of the college surrounded by her college colleagues and teachers but none ready to call the ambulance service.
The students are not allowed to have mobile phones inside the college parameters. The students urged the teachers to make the necessary call and save their dying classmate. The teachers, however, refused to do so because to make a phone call, even when a life was at stake, they needed the permission of the principal who unfortunately was not in the college at that moment.
When it comes to keeping or using mobile phone by the girls, the college has a Taliban type of policy which of course has been formulated and enforced by the Principal Neelofar Zeb.
So the young student was dying, her classmates watched her helplessly, the teachers stood by and refused break the draconian rule and the principle was not their to amend her rule in the face of life and death situation.
Maria Ayub daughter of Haji Ayub resident of Peshawar Cantt came to college after a week’s leave to resume her education. However, soon after reaching college, she complained to her friends about severe pain in the chest. Principal of the college Dr Nilofar Zaib, however, told The Frontier Post that an ambulance was arranged immediately for the ailing student who was rushed to the nearby Khyber Teaching Hospital. However, the doctor announced her dead when she reached KTH.
The teachers claim that they contacted the principal and they told the girls that the principal will becoming soon. However, the students say the teachers did not contact the principal at all. It was a little over 7.30 AM when Maria complained of pain in the chest and at 7.45 she had breathed her last. The principal had arrived by then and took her dead body to the hospital.
A press release of Peshawar University also stated that the deceased student was a heart patient and was fighting her ailment for almost two years.
Dr Nilofar Zaib also said that her parents were immediately informed about the incident and her body was handed over to her parents.
Her funeral prayers were offered in Peshawar Cantt on Wednesday evening, attended by faculty and staff of University of Peshawar including Registrar Dr. Syed Fazli Hadi, President PUTA Jamil Ahmed, Associate Professor Roohullah, Imran Bangash and others.
However, some of the students said on condition of anonymity that after complaining of pain in her chest they asked the teachers present at that time to call her home and try to manage an ambulance.
However, the teachers said that they were not allowed by the principal and every one should wait for the principal to arrive and take necessary action.
The students further said that had the ambulance been called earlier the life of the student may have been saved.
The students also said that they would hold protest against the college administration today (Thursday) in front of the college.
It was learnt that after hearing about the protest the principal announced a holiday on Thursday. However, the students remained defiant and said that they would come to the college and would lodge their protest.
