LAHORE - Even as the most dignified and loveable army chief of the country, General Raheel Sharif, has announced in the most crucial conditions not to take any extension, Punjab government has once again extended the stay of Dr Mujahid Kamran at University of the Punjab.
Is there no other competent faculty to replace him in the population of 200 million people or is there some “special task” which only he can complete, asked the PU teachers yesterday.
The interim vice chancellor has turned 65 and under no rules he can get third term or extension, said the teachers who are holding a hunger strike camp for last days at Chairing Cross outside Punjab Assembly. “We are not on roads for pay raise or any other perk or facility. We have PhD professors and the most qualified teachers with us. It is extreme helplessness when university teachers come out in protest.
“We have taken to roads to protect our prestigious institute from becoming a laughing stock. There is extreme unrest among the teachers on the unlawful appointment of Mujahid Kamran as interim VC,” said the protesting teachers.
“We want him removed from the office and the most senior professor at the varsity should be appointed as acting VC in accordance with the University Act,” they added.
PU faculty members also met with Higher Education Department (HED) Secretary to convey their grievances to him. “He (secretary) assured us that he will convey our grievances to the Chief Minister. However we will continue our protest until the merit is upheld and our university is saved from becoming a private property,” said Samee Uzair, Assistant Professor at University Law College.
PU Syndicate member Javed Sami, Shumaila Gull, Law College faculty member Samee Uzair, Dr Shahbaz Cheema, former member Syndicate Dr Ismatuallah, Dr Naveed Ahmed, Ms Khujista Rehan, Dr Shahid Ghazi, Dr Ehsan Sharif participated along with their colleagues at the protest and hunger strike camp under the banner of Save PU Movement.
On the other hand, Punjab University Academic Staff Association yesterday announced to take out a massive rally today, for thanking CM Shahbaz Sharif on reappointment of Dr Mujahid Kamran.
Expectedly, a few dozen teachers of ASA will take out rally today at 11am from Al Raazi Hall of Undergraduate Studies in which a large number of teachers from all the departments will participate.
In their press statement, ASA President Prof Dr Hasan Mobeen Alam and Secretary Dr Mahboob Hussain claimed the overwhelming majority of PU teachers support policies of the incumbent administration.