June 12, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 07, 1429

PESHAWAR, June 11: The NWFP governor has taken notice of university teacher’s participation in the lawyer’s long march and directed them to avoid taking part in ‘political activities’.

It is learnt that on the directives of NWFP Governor Owaise Ahmed Ghani, who is also chancellor of all the public sector universities in the province, a notification has been issued by University of Peshawar registrar here on Wednesday.

The notification stated that any of the university employees found ‘guilty of violating the directives’ would be dealt in accordance with University of Peshawar Employees Efficiency and Discipline Statues 1977, which might lead to removal from the university service.

“It has been observed that Puta and FAPUASA have circulated a poster under the heading of “Important notice” and a slogan Hum Mulk Bachane Nikle Hain .. Aao Hamare Sath Chalo wherein the faculty members have been requested to come out on the roads and take part in the long march announced by the lawyers,” the notification said.

According to sources two days ago Zubair Khan, general secretary of Peshawar University Teachers Association (Puta) and Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA), also got a show-cause notice from university authorities for his participation in political activities.

Representatives of Puta and FAPUASA had announced to take part in the long march alongside lawyers. They had also taken part in lawyers convention held on May 31.

The executive council of NWFP chapter of FAPUASA and executive committee of Puta have condemned governor for issuing instructions to vice-chancellors of public sector universities to prevent faculty members from joining the long march.

According to a press release issued here on Wednesday, vice-chancellors of NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar and University of Peshawar have already issued notifications in their universities warning faculty members of removal and dismissal in case they joined the march.

The participation of teachers in the long march has been termed as ‘political activity’.

“Such notifications are taken as head on collision with the elected associations of the university teachers and FAPUASA which have given call to the faculty members of all public sector universities to join the long march,” a press release quoted president of Puta and FAPUASA Arbab Afridi as saying.

The teachers association criticised the governor for denying right of audience and freedom of expression to FAPUASA and other associations of the public sector universities.

“He is also responsible for appointing unqualified persons as vice-chancellor of public sector universities on the basis of nepotism and political affiliation,” the release added.

It said that teachers should not bow before the pressure of Pervez Musharraf and his appointed governors, adding that they should participate in the long march no matter whatever consequences might follow.

“It is the fundamental right of the teachers to assemble peacefully, express their opinion and form associations for that matter as citizens of Pakistan under 1973 Constitution.

The teachers of the public sector universities are assembling in Islamabad peacefully to express their opinion about the supremacy of Constitution and independent judiciary,” the release stressed.