PU faculty disrupt ‘illegal’ syndicate meeting

They stormed into the meeting and staged a protest outside VC’s office

LAHORE: Punjab University faculty members on Thursday disrupted a syndicate meeting held to approve the budget of the varsity, terming the assembly illegal and in violation of court orders.

Elected members of Punjab University Academic Staff Association (PUASA) and the senate flanked by a large number of faculty members from different departments stormed into the syndicate meeting and staged a protest demonstration outside the vice-chancellor's office.

Moreover, because of the lack of quorum, the meeting started almost four hour late because only eight out of 19 members were present at the beginning. Later, at around 2:45pm, Finance Additional Secretary Abdul Samad arrived and the administration wrapped up Rs9.27 billion budget meeting in just 15 minutes.

Earlier at 9:30am, the teachers held a demonstration outside the VC office. The protesters were holding placards and banners with slogans against provisional Vice Chancellor Dr Zafar Mueen Nasir. The main gate of the VC office was closed, but because of the protest, they were finally allowed inside on the orders of the acting registrar. A minor scuffle also erupted between Dr Zafar and media persons.



The university administration also had to shift the meeting's venue from the committee room of the VC office to the committee room of the planning and development wing on the second floor. However, the teachers followed and stormed the new meeting room.

Elected Members of Senate Dr Kamran Abid and Engineer Dr Muhammad Azhar Naeem briefed the available members of the syndicate, saying that the court had stayed syndicate meeting and the approval of the chancellor was also not sought.

They said the meeting had been convened in violation of the orders of the Lahore High Court (LHC).

Talking to media outside the VC office, PU's elected members of Senate and Academic Staff Association (ASA) Dr Kamran Abid, Dr Azhar Naeem, Dr Ayub Afridi, Dr Yumna, Institute of Geology's former Director Shahid Samini and others said that the meeting was illegal as approval for convening the meeting, including its agenda items, had not been sought from the chancellor as ordered by the LHC.

They said that as per the university calendar, one-half of the total strength of the syndicate was mandatory to fulfil the requirement for quorum and there should be at least 10 members present in the meeting.

They said that Dr Zafar had increased student fees by dropping a "fee bomb" on poor students, adding that they would challenge the convening of the syndicate meeting in the LHC on account of contempt proceedings and because of the statutory quorum requirement given in the University Act.



Syndicate proceedings

The syndicate meeting, presided over by Dr Zafar, approved Rs9 billion budget for the next fiscal year. The university expects a total grant of Rs2.548 billion from the Higher Education Commission (HEC), 38% of the total budget. To encourage research activities, the university has increased research grant from Rs120 million to Rs150 million.

According to other salient features of the budget, special students will also be provided with free education along with boarding facilities, while students taking admission on sports basis will be provided with free education.

The university will continue to waive tuition fees for Hafiz-e-Quran. The university has allocated Rs70 million for overseas scholarships and Rs70 million for participation in national and international conferences.

In order to facilitate students, the university is providing funds of Rs11 million to its students in terms of scholarships, student affairs, career counselling and other activities.

Moreover, HEC scholarships worth Rs9.74 million and Punjab Education Endowment Fund (PEEF) scholarships will also be provided to students. Punjab University is providing a Rs220.40 million hostel subsidy, a Rs4.83 million transport subsidy, and a Rs10.14 million internet subsidy to students.

The net subsidy on the mentioned services has been increased from Rs210 million to Rs270 million, and in addition to the above, subsidies on electricity bills in teaching departments are also being provided. PU has also allocated Rs410 million for development projects.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2017.