KARACHI: KU teachers vow to continue boycott: FIR registered against unidentified culprits
By Mukhtar Alam
KARACHI, Nov 23: Teachers at the University of Karachi on Wednesday vowed to continue boycott of academic and administrative duties till the expulsion of the students involved in the manhandling of a senior teacher of the varsity’s geology department.
Speaking at their general body meeting, teachers condemned the students who according to them not only tried to influence teachers with threatening postures but also subjected one of them to torture for some facilities which were not in line with the varsity rules and norms.
The meeting was held at the auditorium of the Geology department, with president of the Karachi University Teachers’ Society, Prof Sohail Barkati. Teachers who spoke at the meeting included Prof Nasiruddin Khan, Dr Shakil Farooqui, Dr Malahat Kaleem Sherwani, Dr Ahmed Qadri, Shahid Qureshi and KUTS Secretray Sarwar Nasim also spoke on the occasion.
In the meantime, KU Vice-Chancellor Dr Qasim Pirzada told the newsmen at his office that it was very unfortunate that the role and sanctity of the university teachers were undermined by some students on Monday and Tuesday.
Referring to the concerns of the teachers fraternity and boycott of semester examination and other assignments by them, Dr Pirzada said it was very natural, but in a situation when the discipline committee of the university was already addressing the issue of violence and misbehaviour promptly, it would be in the fitness of things that the protesting teachers called off their strike for the time being.
He said that the disciplinary committee on a report of the chairman of the geology department had sent a show-cause notice to a student, Adeel Mohammad Ali, through courier service, on Tuesday night, calling him to appear before it on Nov 25 and clarify his position for threatening and abusing some of the teachers.
On the other hand, an FIR has been lodged on Wednesday morning against two unidentified persons for beating Associate Professor Mujeeb Ahmad on Tuesday, he added, saying that the administration was taking all steps permissible under the varsity rules and as such teachers could defer their protest to see completion of disciplinary committee’s proceedings.
Referring to the prevailing sentiments and actions of teachers, Dr Pirzada said that those were justified, but needed some rationale as well.
If the strike continues for long the semester examinations would pile-up and students would have to face difficulties in taking the exams under a revised and hectic schedule, he added.
Dr Pirzada told newsmen that KU administrations had been taking strict actions, including expulsions and debarring from taking examinations in the past as well and the students involved in the latest event in question would also be subjected to punishment depending on the gravity of their misconduct.
In the wake of teachers’ strike, the semester examinations could not be held on Wednesday, although a good number of students turned up for papers. Rangers were present on sensitive locations to avert any untoward or reactionary moves by student activists.
A teacher of the geology department was beaten up in his room by some students on Tuesday reportedly for not allowing one Adeel to appear in the semester examination. It is said that Adeel on Monday had given undignified utterance before the chairman and other teachers of the department and threatened of dire consequences for not being allowed to sit in examination for want of attendance.
Dr Suhail Barkati at the KUTS meeting reiterated that teachers would boycott classes, the ongoing semester exams and other administrative responsibilities assigned to them in protest for an indefinite period.
We will not come back on our duties till the time disciplinary committee completes its proceedings and actions taken against the unruly students, he added, saying that after all the culture of threat and vandalism against the teachers had to be stopped.
Before the general body meeting teachers from different departments gathered in the arts lobby of the varsity before moving to the geology department.
KUTS Secretary Sarwar Nasim expressed satisfaction over the unity of teachers on the issue of misconduct with teachers.
A couple of teachers criticized the administrative measures taken so far and demanded that the varsity should have issued at least two notices to the student who not only threatened the teachers but also prepared some students for roughing up the senior teacher.
A resolution of the meeting said that severe actions, including expulsion and legal actions, were necessary against the culprits in order to warn other students that violation of rules and regulation would result in due punishment to them, while on the other hand teachers would be in a position to perform their duties pertaining to teaching and examination in a peaceful environment.
Teachers will once again assemble at the arts lobby on Thursday to review the administrative measures and evolve future line of action, said a KUTS press release.
