Lahore (Pakistan News Online) Thousands of teachers and employees of Punjab University staged a protest in support of their demands and announced that the protest would continue until all their demands are accepted.
The protest was organized by the Joint Action Committee, with a large number of teachers and employees, including office-bearers of the Punjab University Academic Staff Association and Punjab University Administrative and Technical Staff Association, participating.
Addressing the protesters, Joint Action Committee Chairman Professor Dr. Sardar Asghar Iqbal alleged that the Vice Chancellor was patronizing a specific group, which had severely affected the university’s financial and administrative affairs.
Professor Dr. Kamran Abid, General Secretary of the Academic Staff Association and Convener of the Joint Action Committee, spoke in detail about the university’s current situation and alleged that employees’ funds had been used indiscriminately.
Professor Dr. Abdul Rehman Khan Niazi, Professor Dr. Muqeet Javed, Dr. Abrar Zafar, Professor Dr. Kamran Mirza and other senior faculty members also participated in the protest.
Chaudhry Basharat Mahmood, President of the Punjab University Administrative and Technical Staff Association and President of the Joint Action Committee, said employees had been holding peaceful protests for the past one and a half years, but the administration’s alleged stubbornness had now forced them to launch a more practical form of protest.
Following Zuhr prayers, a Mehfil-e-Milad was also organized. Food was distributed among the participants, while special prayers were offered for the safety, prosperity and well-being of Punjab University.
Chaudhry Basharat Mahmood urged the Punjab government to immediately resolve all issues faced by teachers and employees and ensure payment of outstanding dues.
He also called for the removal of DG Rehan Sadiq Sheikh, alleging that there had been no previous sanctioned post for him at the university and accusing him of mistreating employees and being responsible for the university’s administrative and financial crisis.
The protesters also demanded a forensic audit of the university’s financial and administrative affairs.
Tayyab Ejaz Khan Swati, Tanveer Awan, Muhammad Hamad Butt, Azhar Iqbal Baloch, former association president Nasir Rehmat, Akhuwat Group President Ehsan Aslam Qureshi, Employees Unity Group General Secretary Javed Anwar and Shahid Akram Khan also addressed the gathering.
The speakers expressed their resolve to remain united and said they would not accept any attempts to create divisions among the employees. They pledged to respond to every call for action under the leadership of elected President Chaudhry Basharat Mahmood.
The Punjab University Joint Action Committee made it clear that the protest would continue until all their demands are accepted.