Teachers united with former Punjab University VC, announce black day

PU staff enraged after Professor Dr Mujahid Kamran was presented before a court in chains

LAHORE: Federation of All Pakistan Acadamic Staff Association (FAPUSA) announced a black day at all public sector universities on October 15 former Punjab University VC Professor Dr Mujahid Kamran and five registrars were presented before a court in handcuffs and chains.

PAFUSA President Dr Mahboob Ahmad said that all public sector universities will put up black flags at university departments, while teachers will wear black armbands. He added that a meeting of the Academic Staff Association (ASA) would also be convened to discuss further strategy.

On the other hand, the PU ASA also condemned the incident of teachers being presented in handcuffs. To this effect, a meeting of varsity deans, directors and department heads was called on October 15.

University teachers and students showed their reaction on social media sites. They also slammed the treatment meted out to former PU VC Professor Dr Mujahid Kamran and five other registrars. The varsity students and faculty expressed their strong opposition and criticised the act.

The former PU VC and five registrars were arrested by NAB over alleged charges, including illegal appointments, unmerited promotions and scholarships as well as financial embezzlement. On Friday, all officials were presented before the court in handcuffs and chains, while a group of lawyers also protested against the teachers and raised slogans.

FAPUSA slammed these actions, while the black day was announced to express their dissatisfaction and show solidarity with the former VC and other officials of PU.

"FAPUSA has concerns over presenting teachers in handcuffs as it the worst kind of act and an insult to the teachers. The teaching community will observe a black day and a further strategy will be announced soon after. However, we are not boycotting the academic system or classes as we are teachers and will mark this black day with etiquette,” said FAPUSA President Dr Mahboob Ahmad. A meeting of the PU ASA was also held on Saturday in which the body condemned the incident.

"Teachers are the brains of the nation and it is an insult to the whole community. We called our general body meeting on October 16, while October 15 will be marked as a black day. Besides, a meeting of the deans and department heads of the university will be held at PU,” he said.

PU ASA General Secretary Dr Sardar Asghar stressed that teachers believed in justice and favoured investigation, but opposed handcuffs and chains. He argued that even proclaimed offenders and looters were not insulted in this fashion.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore arrested Dr Mujahid Kamran over allegations of corruption, illegal appointments, and nepotism. The bureau also arrested five registrars who worked during his tenure.

Kamran appeared before an investigations team at NAB Lahore Headquarters in Thokar Niaz Beg on Thursday. He was interrogated for around four hours, but failed to satisfy the anti-graft body. Later on, the NAB team arrested him.

Finally, the former PU VC was handed over to NAB, on a 10-day physical remand, by an accountability court.

Kamran has been accused of at least 550 illegal appointments. He also “illegally” appointed his wife Dr Shazia Qureshi as principal of Punjab University Lahore College. The accused also allegedly awarded scholarships to his favoured students. He was also involved in the issuance of contracts violating PPRA rules, the bureau alleged. NAB also arrested PU registrars Dr Orangzaib Alimgir, Dr Liaquat Ali, Dr Kamran Zahid, Dr Raas Masud and Ameen Athar.