SARGODHA: College teachers staged a protest demonstration, under the banner of the Punjab Professors and Lecturers Association, against the Kot Momin assistant commissioner on Friday.

During her visit to the Govt College Kot Momin for inspection of an examination centre for intermediate exam on Thursday, Ms Iffatun Nisa had entered the office of the principal and occupied his chair. She called the attendance register and also inquired about the principal.

A professor, Azhar Hussain Jafri, objected to Ms Iffat’s attitude, saying she was not authorised to occupy the principal’s chair and check the attendance of teachers. At this, she got infuriated and called the police to arrest Professor Jafri who was released late at night after the professors protested over the issue. However, Professor Jafri was held in the police station unlawfully as there was no charge against him.

On Friday, the Punjab Professors and Lecturers Association held a strike as well as a protest demonstration. They demanded the transfer of Ms Iffat from the area and warned of continuing their strike if she was not transferred. They also warned that they would not conduct intermediate and BA examination in the district.

Though the Sargodha division commissioner and the deputy commissioner intervened to settle the issue, the professors and lecturers did not seem to budge regarding their demand.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2017