KARACHI: The Karachi University Teachers’ Society (Kuts) has announced a boycott of classes on Thursday from 11am, according to a press release issued on Wednesday. The boycott is to protest the arrest of KU professor Dr Riaz Ahmed and the charges of keeping a loaded weapon.

Kuts President Dr Shakeel Farooqi said that “our society is observing a black day on April 6 to protest against the fake case lodged against Dr Ahmed. Classes will be boycotted” from 11am.

Dr Farooqi showed reservation against the “filing of fake charges against teachers” adding that “they will not be tolerated in any way.”

He also stated that presidents of Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association, Dr Humayun Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Dr Mehboob Hussain (Punjab) assured the KU teachers of their support. The statement also says that Kuts “will hold countrywide demonstrations if Dr Ahmed is not released.”

Dr Ahmed was arrested on his way to the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on April 1 where he was headed to speak about the detention of retired professor, Dr Hasan Zafar Arif. Dr Arif, who is part of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London, was arrested by the Rangers from outside the KPC in October last year where he was headed to address a press conference.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2017