The students and teachers of Bahria University on Monday staged a protest demonstration against termination of a university teacher.
Holding banners and placards outside the university premises in sector E-8, the protesting students and teachers condemned the action of the university Rector Vice-Admiral Muhammad Haroon, and demanded reinstatement of the professor immediately. The students vowed to continue protests till the rector takes back his decision.
Prof Qamer Riaz was terminated for speaking against the university’s policies in presence of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairperson Dr Javed Laghari. The incident took place during a question-answer session of a seminar in presence of the HEC chairperson Dr Javed Laghari, faculty and over 300 students on March 31. “Sir, what is the purpose of a university. And do you think that regimental suppression in educational institutions is affecting students’ creative development?” Prof Riaz asked the HEC chairperson during the seminar. When the rector asked the teacher to elaborate, he began to highlight the “regimental suppressions” being faced by students in the university. The rector, in response, called in the secuirty guards and forced the professor out of the auditorium and got him locked in the teachers’ room.
The following day the teacher in protest displayed a paper inscribed with a question mark on his chest and tied his arms with black band. Three days later, Prof Riaz was sacked. The Head of Department of Management Science Dr Shafqat Hameed Rana was also sacked for protesting against the teacher’s termination.
“[Prof] Riaz asked a valid question from the HEC chairperson and the rector, which is a fundamental right of any citizen,” said Dr Rana. Regarding his own termination, he said the rector took action against him “to settle old scores.” He said that he disobeyed the rector’s orders to give admission to some naval officers’ sons who failed to meet the university’s requirements. Moreover, Rana said that he had also refused the rector’s orders to hire a few retired naval officials as professors in his department. “These naval officers were not qualified enough to teach in the university,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 5th, 2011.
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KIND ATTN: Mr HAS ( & Kind Attnt to all the students of Behria University + A.R. Dr. Naqvi + A.K)Mr. HAS, apart from ur command over English language ( as duly pointed out by A.R.), kindly lemme know wat wd u gain by propagating a lost cause? Thats right Mr. HAS , before advocating these Admirals and Generals , as the only hope of academia in this most unfortunate country, I hv a few questions for you: 1) How many Admirals and Generals from the "civilized" world u know, who retire from their services, only to be seen teaching as professors in elite or community schools n colleges n universities? 2) How many professors, after retiring hv been hired by the armed forces into their ranks , as officers ? Get the point Mr. HAS ? 3) Wherever we c in Pakistan, y is it that running an educational instituion like a barrack, is always the hallmark of these retired and imposed servicemen on the hapless students and the faculty? 4) Y is it, that these imposed retired servicemen, suffering from some misguided , untrue, misplaced superiority complex, are always less qualified academically speaking, inept , inarticulate, loud n brash , inflexible, unacceptable in general to those they r serving , totally stuck in their armed forces mindset and always believe they hv an inherent right to bully around and humiliate those who dont conform or "fall in line"? 5) Y is it , that this bright idea of hiring these spent forces in educational facilities, who have nothing to do with education in the first place, predominantly a Pakistani phenomenon only? Y not in developed , civilized , 100% educated nations? Are we missing the point here? 6) How in the world these armed forces personnel are allowed to be inducted in educational institutions,with such blatant disregard to the availability of much more qualified, suitable and career academics around, who are not just professional teachers, but hv an inherent riht to be teaching? U know y Mr. HAS, bcoz thats wat they do. TEACH. Just like u dont c teachers fighting on the frontlines in war gear, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze leave the burden of educating this illiterate and abused country, to those who are better qualified. Do us a favor, and allow the youth of this suppressed, abused, looted country, to be taught by real academics and intellectuals, by Professors n Scholars, not by retired majors, colonels , bigadiers n generals/admirals. Last but not the least.........................You guys hv already served with distinction in the arenas of insurance,housing, banking , real estate , travel..............etc etc. Werent u guys supposed to be for armed forces ONLY? For God's sake dont play with the youth and their futures, in an attempt to satisfy your autocratic , elitist and unethical practices of incorporating retired armed services officers in every facet of existence, specially when they hv no business there. Period. Hvnt u guys had enough of a ride on the back of this country, and continue to do so? Kindly leave ATLEAST education alone. May GOD hv Mercy on this deprived and victimized nation. HASAN ABIDI