June 14, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Sani 09, 1429

PESHAWAR, June 13: NWFP Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani on Friday said disciplinary action would be taken against university teachers who would take part in the long march of lawyers.

Talking to journalists during his visit to the Peshawar Central Jail, the governor, who is also chancellor of public sector universities of the NWFP, admitted that he had issued a notification to the University of Peshawar and warned the faculty of action if they took part in the long march.

The governor also inspected the open space within and adjacent to the central jail and desired that the available land should be properly utilised for city development projects, including construction of a new prison building, government offices and other facilities.

He said a plan would be prepared to construct a multi-storey building for the central prison using the available space. He said help from the federal government with regard to provision of funds would also be sought, a handout issued here said.

About participation of teachers in the long march, the governor said teachers’ unions and associations should work for the welfare of teachers, instead of using the platforms for ‘political activities’.

“I have issued a notification in this respect and I will see that action is taken if someone violates the directives issued through the notification,” he said.On the other hand, NWFP Bar Council Qazi vice-chairman Mohammad Naeem assured full support to teachers taking part in the long march. He claimed that the governor’s action was illegal and the bar council would provide legal help to teachers if the governor took any disciplinary action against them.

The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association has announced to take part in the long march.

Association general secretary Mohammad Zubair told Dawn by phone from Islamabad that 40 teachers, members of the FAPUASA, had reached Islamabad for the long march and more members of the association were also arriving. The association members condemned the governor’s warning and said “they don’t care about such warnings”.