LAHORE, May 21: The Punjab University Academic Staff Association (PUASA) general body on Monday decided to continue with boycott of classes for this week too, as the Punjab government did not respond to teachers’ body demand regarding arrest of “goonda elements” involved in thrashing three faculty members.

It is also seeking government’s assurance for protection of faculty members and upholding of their respect.

Opposition in the PUASA, under the banner of Academic Group, said the suspension of academic activities over the past one week was a matter of grave concern and against the sanctity of teaching profession. The Islami Jamiat Tulaba is also protesting against government’s failure in apprehending killers of its leader Awais Aqeel. It is also protesting against the university administration for not pursuing the murder cases of Awais Aqeel and security guard Muhammad Imran.

The PUASA wants the Punjab government to intervene and ensure protection and respect of university teachers, which was breached by a group of students last week.

The PUASA on Monday organised its general body meeting with president Amer Sarwar in the chair, which was also participated in by the opposition in the university faculty. The general body passed a resolution that the boycott of classes would continue till May 24 (Thursday).

Speaking on the occasion, PUASA President Amer Sarwar said the police had registered an FIR against nominated accused in the teachers’ thrashing case and some of them were arrested. However, he said, the arrested accused had been released on bail.

He said the Punjab government had constituted a three-member committee headed by law minister Rana Sanaullah. The Lahore CCPO and MPA Khwaja Imran Nazir, who is also PU Syndicate member, will be the members of the committee.

It is learnt the opposition members under the banner of Academic Group demanded at the meeting that a judicial inquiry should be sought to probe the murders of IJT leader Aqeel, security guard Muhammad Imran and thrashing of varsity teachers. They also demanded that the varsity teachers holding administration posts should be removed immediately.

Later, the PUASA general body staged a protest rally up to PU Canal bridge. The protesters stood on a footpath, without blocking traffic.

Holding banners and placards bearing inscriptions regarding demand for arrest of elements, who thrashed teachers, they demanded that the university should be depoliticised and teachers should be ensured protection. PUASA’s former president and Academic Group leader Prof Dr Mahr Saeed Akhtar also participated in the rally.

IJT: The Islami Jamiat Tulaba activists also staged a protest rally from Hostel no 1 and staged a sit-in on Canal Road against boycott of academic activity on the campus.

They also demanded the government should remove the vice-chancellor. They also blocked road briefly.