Teachers take a stand against VCs

FAPUASA says recent episode at University of Sargodha has exacerbated situation


Our Correspondent May 22, 2018
App, launched by two assistant professors of FUUAST is available on Android operating systems. PHOTO: EXPRESS

LAHORE: The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) has said that vice chancellors of Pakistani varsities have started to victimise faculty members who raise their voice against unlawful and illegal acts on campuses.

In a statement, FAPUASA said that a recent episode at the University of Sargodha has exacerbated the situation. VC Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed, whose case was already under trial at the Lahore High Court for his unlawful appointment, dismissed a few professors and initiated an inquiry against some others under the PEEDA Act. The federation claimed the allegations against teachers were false.

The statement claimed that there was a similar situation at the International Islamic University, Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad and Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design, Lahore.

“Viewing this horrid situation and sensing a loss to faculty members, FAPUASA called an emergency meeting. It was attended by all office bearers and FAPUASA presidents of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and K-P. The moot hoped to discuss the prevailing situation and redress the grievances of afflicted members.

FAPUASA President, Dr Kaleem Ullah Breech strongly condemned the tactics of the vice chancellor to malign respectable teachers and warned him of dire consequences if attitudes were not changed towards faculty.

He said FAPUASA would launch a complaint against these vice chancellors for “manifesting an extreme vindictiveness and malice against innocent teachers in the universities." Kaleem was of the opinion that no university could be successfully run without keeping teachers in a state of “mental comfort”.

“However, vice chancellors were mentally torturing teachers, compelling them to either commit suicide or leave the country for making a livelihood.”

FAPUASA Punjab Chapter President Dr Javed Ahmed said that the imposition of PEEDA Act on faculty members, based on falsified and baseless charges and accusations, was a proxy of how the Vice Chancellor of University of Sargodha intended to decimate faculty members who pointed about his illegal acts.

He terminated the services of Waqar Ahmed and initiated groundless and unfounded inquiry under PEEDA Act against senior professors like Dr Ghulam Yassin and others, he said.

He demanded the immediate intervention by the chief minister of Punjab, the chancellor and the minister for higher education.  He added FAPUASA would leave no stone unturned to keep the teachers’ dignity intact. Javed demanded the withdrawal of notices which removed these professors from service.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2018.

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