Three students of KU issued show-cause notices

KARACHI:

Three students allegedly involved in the manhandling of a teacher at the University of Karachi (KU) were issued show-cause notices on Friday, demanding them to submit their written statements within a week, said Prof. Dr Abuzar Wajidi, the convenor of the university’s disciplinary committee.

Students at the KU Physics department told The Express Tribune that two undergraduate students, identified as Umar Ali of Chemistry department and Faraz Shakil of Environmental Studies department, approached the department’s lab on Wednesday and gestured towards their friend, Noman Malik, to come out in the corridor. The teacher, Imran Ahmed, who was busy in conducting the practical class of the subsidiary group, got miffed as he observed the interaction.

The two students while sensing the teacher’s temper moved away from the premises, upon which Ahmed pressed Noman Malik to call his friends back towards the lab. When the two students arrived, the teacher attempted to reprimand them, which led to an altercation and threats. Finally, one of the students, Umar Ali, reportedly slapped the teacher.

On receiving the report, KU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr Muhammad Qaiser, while forwarding the case to the KU disciplinary committee, barred all three students from entering the university for a week.

The disciplinary committee, in the next step, will record verbal statements of the students, before announcing its decision in a 15-day period, said Dr Wajidi.

Karachi University Teachers Society (KUTS) President Dr Mutahir Ahmed told The Express Tribune that the fraternity of teachers appreciated the vice-chancellor’s prompt action against those involved in manhandling the teacher. “Increasing incidents of students’ misconduct with the teachers reflects their frustration,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st, 2013.