SAHIWAL: Around 150 college teachers organised a procession from Mall Mandi Chowk to College Chowk against alleged privatisation of the Government Post-Graduate College.

Teachers claimed the PML-N government would privatise the college by introducing an act in the Punjab Assembly.

The procession call was given by divisional and local chapters of the Punjab Professor and Lecturers Association (PPLA) and led by provincial secretary-general Tanvir Shah.

PML-Q District President Haq Nawaz Sagla also participated in the procession along with his supporters.

Earlier, a seminar was held within the college premises where teachers passed a unanimous resolution demanding existing status of the college be retained and it should not be converted into an autonomous university.

The resolution stated teachers were not against formation of a university but they demanded the Punjab government develop an independent university on separate premises in the division.

“By privatising the college and converting it into an autonomous university, the Punjab government will deprive more than 7,000-8,000 students of education from a subsidised public college,” Shah said.

He told the audience the PPLA would oppose this move and protest in front of the Punjab Assembly.

PPLA Divisional President Abdul Islam Dola said privatisation of the college would deny education to the marginalised section.

“This is simply privatisation of higher education in the disguise of improving quality of education,” PPLA provincial joint secretary Mazhar Mahmood said.

The association has fixed banners across the city inscribed with slogans demanding the government take its decision back and create independent universities instead.

Published in Dawn, June 24th , 2014