LCWU crisis: ‘Don’t jump, let’s talk’

VC says demands will be treated on merit, resists political interference.

LAHORE:

The administration of Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) on Wednesday agreed to hold talks with the university employees who have been protesting against the vice chancellor (VC) for allegedly ignoring their concerns.

The VC agreed to listen to their concerns after a driver, Ijaz Ahmad, climbed up the radio tower in the Mass Communication Department and threatened to jump. Leaders of the All Pakistan Clerks Association’s LCWU chapter (APCA) tried to calm him down, but he refused to come down, attracting the attention of university staff, students and reporters. After the footage was aired on television, Zaraq Mirza, the Higher Education Department additional secretary and a Chief Minister’s Secretariat official too arrived at the scene. Several other employees also climbed the department’s building in support of Ahmad.

The protesters were brought down safely after LCWU VC Dr Sabiha Manzoor assured the additional secretary and APCA representatives she will listen to employees in this regard.

Explaining his motive, Ahmad said, “University transport officer, Shahid, had called him the previous night and told him that he had been fired from the job for protesting against the VC.  “He threatened to register an FIR against me. I was depressed and decided to commit suicide,” he said.

APCA Vice President Pervaiz Barkat told The Express Tribune said they had not been contacted by the workers in this regard. “Had the APCA been taken into confidence, we would never have let such an incident happen.”

He said the employees had ended their strike over GP Fund, Group Insurance and Old Age Benefits issues and were looking forward to talks with the vice chancellor. He said a notification in this regard will be issued on Thursday (today).

An LCWU spokesman told The Tribune that the vice chancellor had announced that no political body will be allowed to interfere in the university’s matter. He said, “The workers’ demands will be treated on merit at a forum headed by a senior faculty member, Shireen Asad.” The employees will nominate four representatives for the talks, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2011.