Staging protest: Ad hoc lecturers association to go on hunger strike
Says they will not budge unless demands are met.
Iqbal says that the ad hoc lecturers were recruited on merit in 2010, but accused authorities of adopting delaying tactics in regularising their services. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR:
Following week long protests, the Provincial Ad hoc Lecturers Association (PALC) on Wednesday announced to go on a hunger strike from today (Thursday) to protest against delays in regularising ad hoc lecturers.
Addressing a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club, PALC chief organiser Qazi Zafar Iqbal said they were not going back to work and will sit outside the PPC till their demands are met.
“We have been on strike since the past six days and registered a peaceful protest across the city. However, the authorities did not pay any attention to the problem,” maintained Iqbal.
He said the ad hoc lecturers were recruited on merit in 2010, but accused authorities of adopting delaying tactics in regularising their services.
There are about 267 lecturers on contract across the province, including 54 female lecturers. PALC, however, said they have not been paid since November 2012.
While college principals were being hired on contractual basis, ad hoc lecturers are rendered jobless, said Iqbal, adding that the provincial government regularised about 137 employees in 2011. “The same should be done with lecturers,” he urged.
He said that despite the government’s repeated assurance of improving literacy rates and fighting extremism, teachers were ill-treated. Iqbal added that late senior minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour had also promised regularisation of services and the government should fulfil his promise.
If any of the protestors are harmed as a result of the hunger strike or a terrorist act, the provincial government will be responsible, Iqbal warned. “We will continue our strike and not move from Peshawar till our demands are met.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 24th, 2013.
Following week long protests, the Provincial Ad hoc Lecturers Association (PALC) on Wednesday announced to go on a hunger strike from today (Thursday) to protest against delays in regularising ad hoc lecturers.
Addressing a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club, PALC chief organiser Qazi Zafar Iqbal said they were not going back to work and will sit outside the PPC till their demands are met.
“We have been on strike since the past six days and registered a peaceful protest across the city. However, the authorities did not pay any attention to the problem,” maintained Iqbal.
He said the ad hoc lecturers were recruited on merit in 2010, but accused authorities of adopting delaying tactics in regularising their services.
There are about 267 lecturers on contract across the province, including 54 female lecturers. PALC, however, said they have not been paid since November 2012.
While college principals were being hired on contractual basis, ad hoc lecturers are rendered jobless, said Iqbal, adding that the provincial government regularised about 137 employees in 2011. “The same should be done with lecturers,” he urged.
He said that despite the government’s repeated assurance of improving literacy rates and fighting extremism, teachers were ill-treated. Iqbal added that late senior minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour had also promised regularisation of services and the government should fulfil his promise.
If any of the protestors are harmed as a result of the hunger strike or a terrorist act, the provincial government will be responsible, Iqbal warned. “We will continue our strike and not move from Peshawar till our demands are met.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 24th, 2013.