MPs throw their weight behind protesting students

KABUL University students continued their protest for a second day on Sunday against a presidential announcement renaming the institute after slain former president Burhanuddin Rabbani.

Karzai last week issued a decree announcing the renaming of the university after Rabbani, the top peace negotiator, who was killed at his Kabul residence on Sept. 20, 2011 by a suicide attacker posing as peace envoy. The attacker had explosives concealed in his turban.

The president has issued the decree after he was approached by his cabinet ministers to do so.

Nearly 200 students of the university on Sunday rallied against the renaming for a second day.

They said they respected Rabbani, but Karzai’s decision was aimed at promoting his own political agenda. They said they wanted a politics-free environment on the campus.

The Wolesi Jirga, lower house of parliament, religious and culture commission lent its weight behind the protesting students who had gathered in front of parliament house.

The panel’s head, Kamal Nasir Asuli, told Pajhwok Afghan News the commission members agreed to support the protesting students in their struggle to press President Karzai to review his decision.

The lawmaker said education institutes should not be named after individuals who had role in the conflict.  Asuli said the issue would be raised on the assembly floor on Monday.

The renaming has split the students into two groups, confirmed a protesting student, Matiullah.

When their representatives held talks with members of the religious and culture commission, the lawmakers were found supportive of students’ demand, he said.

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