KARACHI, Oct 14: A day of action was observed at the University of Karachi on Monday in line with a call given by the Joint Action Committee and the Federation of All-Pakistan University Academic Staff Association, a press release issued by the Karachi University Teachers Society said.

A complete boycott of classes was observed as teachers abstained from classes after 10.30am. Teachers also assembled at the Arts Lobby of the university and spoke against the government’s policies of liberalization of higher education and health at the behest of the World Bank.

The secretary of KUTS, Dr Riaz Ahmad, said that teachers through their joint struggle had restrained the government from enforcing the Model University Ordinance before Oct 10. The President of the Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association, Prof Athar Hussain, said the government wanted to exhaust teachers by insisting on its policies and it was through their persistence they could force it to retreat.

Later, at a meeting of the executive council of the KUTS, the office-bearers demanded removal of Vice-Chancellor Dr Zafar Saied Saify, as according to the forum, he had failed to command respect from the academics.