Stalemate: Academic staff keep QAU in lockdown

VC office refutes all allegations, says QAU functioning normally

ISLAMABAD: A complete academic blackout and complete shutdown perpetuates at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. The administration and academic blocks remained completely locked on Monday. Transport service was totally suspended and no academic or research activity could be conducted.

A significant number of faculty members are maintaining a sit-in before the transport section of the university while roads to university remain open.

The Academic Staff Association President Dr Aqeel Bokhari expressed his reservations against warnings of what he said was an “incompetent, imported dual national VC”

Dr Bokhari said that any such move will be considered tantamount to intimidation and direct harassment. “We will not resume any academic activity unless the incompetent, imported and dual national QAU Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Ashraf steps down. His departure is now written on the wall and we will set the Thames on fire to boot him out of the university.”

Dr Ashraf has lost his moral authority since the university is dysfunctional. The VC is misleading media and the authorities concerned. This is akin to playing with the future of faculty, students and the grandeur of the university, the ASA press release said.



The university has a unblemished reputation incredible repute but VC is amassing disrepute and doing colossal disservice to the country’s number one ranked university. He is trying to malign faculty through all possible means, Dr. Bokhari added. It is shameful and preposterous and also reflects that VC can go to any extent to continue clinging to the office. The momentum of the strike and sit in is waxing and will go unabated unless the resignation of the VC ice Chancellor is achieved. We will not be deterred by any threat/caution or warning. The President ASA said that it is so agonising that the relevant authorities are silent and not taking a substantive notice of the quagmire which hinges the future of the generations. He urged the media and civil society to highlight the seriousness the issue.

Meanwhile the QAU administration in a statement said that it is notified for the information of all concerned that the Quaid-i-Azam University is open and functioning as usual. The classes and examinations already scheduled will be held normally and offices will remain functional.

It is further notified that the Academic Staff Association protestors have forcibly taken control of the buses of the University and paralysed the transport system, therefore, the buses may not be running on their routes. The students and employees are advised to make their own arrangements to reach the campus and to return home after classes, exams and duty. Hopefully the situation will become normal shortly.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2018.