Lahore College: No classes as faculty holds pro-VC walk

Employees continue simultaneous protest against vice chancellor.

LAHORE:

No classes were held at the Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) on Tuesday as teachers and students participated in a walk in support of Vice Chancellor Dr Sabiha Mansoor while employees continued their protest against her.

All four deans of the university and a large number of students participated in the walk, with the line stretching from the main gate to the department buildings.

Meanwhile, drivers, clerks, attendants and other university employees below grade 16 gathered at the university lawn in a protest against the administration. The employees went on strike a day earlier, saying they had no choice as the vice chancellor was ignoring their concerns about allowances and pensions.

The participants in the walk held placards with slogans urging a peaceful environment on campus. “We condemn the negative attitude of the employees who, during their protest on Jail Road, burnt effigies of the present and former vice chancellors. The peaceful academic environment has been damaged due to the employees’ strike and protest,” said a faculty member. They also passed a resolution condemning the employees’ behaviour.

While most faculty members stood with the vice chancellor, some sided with the employees and joined their protest. “The employees’ issues must be addressed. The matter of illegal appointments and the General Provident Fund need to be resolved immediately but the administration is doing nothing,” said a botany lecturer, asking not to be named for fear of sanction.

“We have served here for many years and many students know us very well. The vice chancellor has come a few months ago,” said Nisar Ahmad, chairman of the LCWU chapter of the All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA). “The vice chancellor and faculty are using students for their interests. We know the students are with us but we have decided not to involve them.”

Pervaiz Barkat, the vice chairman of the APCA chapter, said it was irresponsible of the faculty to suspend classes for the walk. “If the faculty wanted to show their solidarity with the vice chancellor they could have done it after classes, but they asked students to participate in the walk instead of classes,” said Barkat.

An LCWU spokesman said that the students weren’t forced to attend the rally. He said the Higher Education Department was responsible for the GP Fund, not the university.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14^th, 2011.