MULTAN, Dec 7: A sacked lecturer of the Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) in Multan has vowed to continue hunger strike against his termination and removal of his wife from the BZU English Department headship.

The BZU administration abruptly terminated the services of English Department visiting lecturer Moeenuddin Haider on Nov 30. The administration alleged the lecturer was “involved in subversive activities” and was “creating law and order problems”.

Mr Haidar said that his wife Dr Sherien and he were being victimised for expressing moderate views and raising voice for female students of the university.

He said that a majority of the administrative officials were from a religious organisation who were against him and his wife for raising a voice for women’s rights.

He claimed even though the university had not received any written complaint against him, Vice-Chancellor (VC) Dr Zafarullah had unjustifiably removed him. He alleged the VC had protected the teachers involved in a sexual harassment case a few months ago.

He alleged that on the orders of the VC and the registrar, security personnel humiliated him on Nov 30 when he was going with his wife to their residence on the university premises. Later, guards handed over him to Alpah police and SHO Javaid Khan and his staff tortured him.

Alpah police registered a first information report against Mr Haider under 16 MPO and sent him to jail on 14-day judicial remand. He was later released on bail. He alleged Dr Sherien was removed from the headship as punishment for forming the Revolutionary Women’s Action Committee, a body working for women’s rights.

He urged BZU Chancellor Salmaan Taseer to take action against the VC and other administrative staff for promoting rigidity on the campus.

On Dec 4, the VC issued a letter to Dr Sherien seeking explanation in three days for holding a press conference, leveling allegations against him (the VC), instigating students to join protest, distributing pamphlets, appointing her husband as visiting lecturer while he was not eligible, going on hunger strike, creating law and order situation and being involved in subversive activities. Dr Sherien said she would reply to the letter after Eidul Azha.