KARACHI: University teachers have warned the government of a countrywide agitation and boycott of classes for an indefinite period if the killers of Karachi University teacher Dr Syed Waheed-ur-Rehman are not arrested and his family is not paid compensation within the next 15 days.

The teachers representing various varsities across the province while addressing a press conference at Karachi University on Thursday announced the deadline and also demanded immediate establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the murder.

Dr Rehman, an assistant professor at the KU mass communications department, was shot dead on Wednesday morning when he was on his way to the university.

“We may adopt a strict stance and hold protests across the country if the government didn’t accept our demands: immediate establishment of a judicial commission to investigate Dr Rehman’s murder, arrest of the killers and provision of Rs50 million compensation to the victim’s family,” said Prof Naimatullah Leghari, president of the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association.

The decision for a country-wide protest would be taken after consultation with all chapters of the federation, he added.

It’s not just a murder of a single teacher rather it’s “a message to all teachers that they, too, could suffer the same consequences,” said Prof Leghari, a senior teacher at Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, also heading the teachers’ association of his university.

He said varsity teachers across the country were working in a threatening environment and needed to provide with adequate security.

He also supported the KU teachers’ demand for provision and timely release of sufficient funds to universities.

Karachi University Teachers Society (Kuts) President Jamil Hasan Kazmi said it’s not a big deal for the government to set up a judicial commission and provide Rs50 million compensation to the victim’s family immediately.

“It is important that the killers are punished without delay so that teachers could perform their duties without fear,” he said.

He reiterated KU teachers demand for expanding their residential facility and providing transport to teachers who lived outside the campus.

Teachers representing the NED University for Engineering and Technology, Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association and Federal Urdu University for Arts, Science and Technology were also present at the press conference and supported these demands.

Earlier during the day, the Kuts executive body in a meeting decided that teachers would observe a ‘black day’ on May 4 while performing their duties. The following day a protest march will be organised from the KU administration block to University Road.

A general body meeting of the Kuts will be held on May 7 to finalise a strategy to compel the government to accept teachers’ demands.

Meanwhile, a condolence reference presided over by KU vice chancellor Prof Mohammad Qaiser was held on the campus on Thursday.

The teachers who participated in large numbers in the condolence reference strongly condemned the murder, paid tribute to the slain teacher and recalled Dr Rehman’s services.

A separate gathering was organised by representatives of the KU officers and employees welfare association to express their sorrow over the tragedy.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2015

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