Karachi: Students at Dawood University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, attempted to celebrate Holi on February 21, 2025, but the event took a dreadful turn. The university administration citing various excuses, moved to punish students involved in the celebration.
The Dawood University has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against students and barred them from entering the campus.
“Hindu students at Dawood University are terrified, and some have even contemplated suicide after being named in the FIR,” said affected students.
FIR Filed Over Holi Celebration
Hindu students, along with others, planned to celebrate Holi in the last week of February, as Ramzan was set to being in March. Wanting to hold the celebration earlier, they submitted an application to the university administration, requesting permission for a small gathering. From the very beginning, however, the administration’s response was unkind. They dismissively told students they would “look into the matter,” offering no clear approval or support.
Despite this, students decided to hold a simple celebration and gathered at the University Park.
Describing the incident, affected student said that while students were celebrating, university officials suddenly appeared and began threatening them, despite the gathering being small and peaceful.
The administration not only acted aggressively but also attempted to turn the Holi celebration into a religious controversy. Fortunately, students affiliated with a religious party did not react, preventing the situation from escalating further. However, the administration treated the celebration as though it were a criminal act, leaving students shocked by their hostility.
On the same day, the university administration file a FIR against students and issued show-cause notices.
Students said that the administration has harassed Hindu students, demanding to know why news of the university’s Holi ban had been aired on Indian news channels. He explained that news had gone viral on social media, and media outlets had picked it up from there, but the administration is now using this as a pretest to threaten students.
“It is clear to everyone that the university administration harassed the students and subjected them to psychological torture,” student said. “Now, students are afraid to speak out and are worried about their academic future. Most of them lack financial support, and after facing such cases, how can they continue their education?”
Wajahat Jagarani, a member of the Central Committee at the Workers Resistance Movement, said this is not the first time Dawood University has attempted to suppress students.
“Holi is a beautiful festival that should be encouraged by the government,” he said. “They celebrate Holi in hotels for media attention, but when students want to celebrate independently, they are being harassed. This pattern is clear—whenever students celebrate Sindhi Cultural Day or Holi, they are punished. Meanwhile, students who are in the good graces of the state are allowed to do whatever they want on campus. Those who question authority or speak out against injustice, however, are targeted with fake FIRs.”
Lawyer, Faiz Malano said that students have been subjected to psychological torture, and many are afraid to speak out against the university for fear of jeopardizing their education. He pointed out that the university administration claimed in the FIR that students had broken a window, but in reality, the glass had been shattered during a Qawwali event organized by the university itself.
“If the university has any evidence, it should present it,” Malano said. “Otherwise, falsely linking incidents to students who celebrated Holi is absurd. A petition has been filed in court seeking justice. If the court does not intervene, the university administration will continue preventing students from continuing their education.”
Expressing his disappointment, student said, “Students are not allowed to celebrate Holi. If they do, they are punished for it.”
*Students asked not to mention their names due to security concerns.
