LAHORE: A senior teacher of the Punjab University has written to the chancellor and syndicate members, urging them to investigate her ‘illegal’ removal from the directorship of the Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology (IBB).

In a letter to Chancellor Governor Rafique Rajwana and the PU syndicate members, Prof Dr Amtul Jamil Sami said the varsity administration had used emergency powers illegally for her removal (in last September). “My case should be decided on merit,” she requested.

She said on Aug 25, 2015 some teachers of her department refused to conduct exams of the ongoing semesters. “These teachers did not comply with the rules and duties as prescribed in the university calendar and all over again refused to conduct exams. No action was taken by the vasrity administration against such a misconduct rather I was removed from the directorship,” she said.

Prof Sami further said she was “harassed” after the office hours when university was closed for Eid holidays. “I was called from my residence to the Institute, in the name of security threat and was harassed by switching off the lights of my office at night with intent to procure signatures on a written statement. I have four witnesses of this incident, including one learned member of the syndicate.”

She has urged the chancellor and the syndicate members to give her personal hearing and she may be allowed to complete her tenure under the rules, protected from undue inference by the administration.

The syndicate meeting is schedule for Nov 28. A PU spokesman told Dawn that Prof Sami had been removed from the directorship on complaints that she was “non-cooperative” in reach work of the faculty members.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2015