SWABI: The Peshawar High Court has stayed the termination of 13 teachers of the Swabi Women University, said the fired teachers on Friday.

Talking to media persons here, they vowed to exhaust all channels for restoration of their jobs. They alleged mala fide intentions behind their termination. They said termination letters were issued during winter holidays on Dec 22, but they were handed over the same on Jan 2 after a lapse of 12 days.

Accompanied by their lawyer Javid Iqbal Khan Yousafzai, the fired teachers said they had moved the Peshawar High Court against their termination, which after staying the varsity orders, had set the date of next hearing for Feb 12.

The appointment letter of one of the teachers says that on the recommendations of the selection committee in its meeting held on Nov 9, 2015, the competent authority is pleased to appoint her against the existing vacant post of lecturer in chemistry (BPS-18) no salary of Rs45,000 per month on extendable contract basis initially for a period of one year with effect from 18-01-2016.

The termination letters states that their services were terminated as their appointments were not made in accordance with the provisions of PC-1, the teachers said, adding the PC-1 rules were neither mentioned in their appointment letters nor they were informed about this through other sources by the university.

“We all were selected through proper channel as we went through the ETEA test and interviews, fulfilling the required criteria of the university,” said a teacher.

The sacked teachers said they had submitted an application to the vice-chancellor for reconsideration of the decision, but to no avail. They pointed out that the sitting vice-chancellor was head of the selection committee which made their appointments. Their lawyer, Mr Yousafzai said besides him Muzamil Khan Advocate, President of PHCBA, would also represent the terminated teachers in the high court on Feb 12.

STOLEN BIKES RECOVERED: Police on Friday arrested a gang of bike lifters and recovered five stolen motorcycles from them. Yar Hussain SHO Zar Nabi Khan was tipped-off that the watchman of government high school, Yar Hussain, was dealing in stolen motorcycles.

Following which, the police arrested the watchman named Iqtidar Ali, along with his accomplices Bilal Awais of Yar Hussain village and Hemad of Yaqobi village, and recovered five stolen bikes from them.

Published in Dawn January 21st, 2017