ISLAMABAD On the call of Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA) Black Day was observed on Monday at the universities against the attacks on academicians at various universities and the lax attitude of the government over the issues. Teaching faculty of the public universities including Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), International Islamic University and National University of Modern Languages (NUML) wore black armbands to observe the day while classes were held according to their schedules. Banners were also displayed by the professors against the governments silence towards the kidnapping of the professor, Dr Lutfullah Kakakhel and over the thrashing of Punjab University professor, Iftikhar Baloch, by Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) activists. The representatives of the universities also condemned the victimisation of professor Tahir Malik of NUML at the hands of university administration. They also have been demanding from the university administration to withdraw the show cause notice given to the lecturer otherwise the federation would demand removal of Brig(retd) Aziz Ahmad from the post of Rector. The President of the federation, Prof. Dr. Mahar Saeed Akhtar had announced on April 7 to observe Black Day in all the public sector universities across the country against the violence incidents and other issues of the universities. The federation has given ultimatum of ten days to the government and if it fails to get released Dr Lutfullah, Vice Chancellor of Kohat University and a leading IT and Computer Science professional in the country who was kidnapped by unknown people six months ago and in arresting the accused involved in the beating of Punjab University professor they would observe strike. And Executive Body meeting of FAPUASA would be held to chalk out future line of action. They have also held meetings with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman and dispatched letters to the President, Prime Minister and Inter Minister to apprise them with their issues. FAPUASA has also called upon the HEC to appoint serving faculty members fulfilling the requirements of a professor as vice-chancellors/rectors in public sector universities. They have been demanding that the posts of governors and chancellors should be separated and professors be appointed as chancellors of the universities in provinces. Likewise, president should not hold the office of chancellor in the universities of Federal Capital and academicians should be appointed as chancellors.