SAHIWAL-The Punjab Professor and Lecturer Association (PPLA) took out a protest rally against the failure of the Higher Education Department (HED) and Punjab government in fulfilling their pledge to accept the teachers' demands. Taken out from College Chowk to Press Club, the protest rally was led by PPLA divisional and local office-bearers belonging to Government PG College, Govt Imamia College and Government PG College for Women. It is learnt that professor boycotted classes at three leading educational institutions of Sahiwal city. It is an elected body of 18,000 college teachers of Punjab.
Speaking on the occasion, Divisional President PPLA Tahir Islam said, "In response to our public protests in Lahore, PPLA along with HED had devised a comprehensive summery for accepting of their Charter of Demands. This summery was developed by keeping on board all the stakeholders including Special Secretary Education Ehsan Bhutta, Provincial Secretary Education Nabeel A Awan and Provincial Minster for Higher Education Ali Raza Gillani. The draft summery was designed and it was decided it will soon be sent to CM Punjab for further approval. But because of bureaucracy lethargic attitude and non commitment with its own teaching community the final draft proposal was wondering on tables and none in Punjab Government has sought opinion," It is because of pathetic attitude of HED that PPLA gave call of protest march at all the district headquarter of Punjab. He said PPLA till date had done peaceful protest and negotiated with collaborative approach with HED high-ups. He said Special Secretary Education assured the protest participants of December 20, 2017 at the gate of Civil Secretariat Lahore protest that their demands will be met within 30 days.
However, no matter was resolved and now PPLA reserved the right to stage a sit-in at The Mall Lahore, Tahir Islam said. He said PPLA was protesting in each district of Punjab and threatened in case their demands were not met, PPLA will stage a sit on The Mall on 25th of January.
There were traffic hazards in College Chowk where PPLA gave the sit-in for 30 minutes. The PPLA was demanding the acceptance of the agreed draft of their demands including one step upgradation, time scale for promotion, allocation of quota for M.Phil and PHD scholarships for college teachers, privatisation of public sector colleges by making BOGs, devaluation of administrative powers to directorate level and pay protection and regularisation of contract lecturers.