Lahore police detained at least 15 students from Forman Christian (FC) College on Tuesday after a protest against fee hikes spiraled into a city-wide traffic crisis. The blockade centered on Ferozepur Road, cutting off a vital link for thousands of commuters during the afternoon rush.
What started as a campus-based grievance spilled onto the streets, leaving the Lahore administration scrambling to restore order as tailbacks stretched for kilometers. Riot police moved in after three hours of failed negotiations. While students chanted slogans against the college management, officers used batons to push the crowd back toward the campus gates.
It wasn’t just a student rally; it was a total gridlock. Ambulances headed toward nearby hospitals were trapped in the congestion, and the Metrobus service faced significant delays.
Commuters, some stuck in the heat for hours, abandoned their vehicles or sat helplessly as the standoff intensified. “We had no choice but to clear the road,” a senior police official at the scene said. “The students refused to move to a designated protest area, and the entire city was coming to a standstill.” The students claim the college administration recently introduced “unjustified” fee increases and hidden charges that many families can’t afford.
They’ve vowed to continue the strike until the hikes are reversed. Police have registered cases against dozens of students for rioting and blocking public thoroughfares.
While the road has since been cleared and traffic flow restored, a heavy police contingent remains stationed outside the college to prevent a second wave of protests. The FC College administration hasn’t yet issued a formal response to the specific demands that triggered the unrest. For now, the campus remains tense, and the arrested students remain in custody.
