ISLAMABAD: The faculty of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) has demanded the removal of Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Ashraf, exacerbating an already tense situation due to on going standoff between protesting students and the university administration.

Sources at the university said this is a very significant development, as the entire faculty has spoken out against the vice chancellor.

The Higher Education Commission, Ministry of Federal Education and the presidency – the chancellor’s office – have also failed to resolve the students’ strike, which has now been going on for 15 days.

The QAU Academic Staff Association (ASA) held a press conference at the National Press Club on Thursday, during which it held the vice chancellor responsible for the ongoing strike.

ASA President Dr Ishtiaq Ali, Secretary Dr Jamil Aslam and other office bearers said the university is being held hostage by a handful of individuals who are demanding the restoration of students expelled for violence, in addition to other demands.

They said the administration, HEC and faculty were prepared to accept all of the protesters’ demands except for the restoration of students, which the protesters refuse to concede.

The ASA also said matter of the restoration of students should be taken up by the university syndicate.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2017