LAHORE: The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) on Wednesday appealed to Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar to take suo motu notice over victimisation of faculty members in various universities across the country.

Members of the association were addressing a press conference at the press club to discuss the situation and seek redressal of their grievances. FAPUASA President Prof Dr Kaleemullah Bareech and presidents of other chapters, including Punjab’s Dr Javed Ahmad, Islamabad’s Dr Shehzad Ashraf, PUASA President Prof Mehboob Hussain and other office-bearers were present at the conference.

Dr Bareech claimed that faculty members of various universities, including University of Sargodha (UoS), International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), Comsats, University of Engineering and Technology Lahore and Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD), were being victimised for raising their voices against alleged malpractices of their respective vice chancellors (VCs).

He demanded withdrawal of the notices of sacking and initiation of inquiries against the teachers of UoS.

He further alleged most of the VCs of public sector universities were involved in corruption and illegal appointments and those who raised voices against their illegal practices were victimised.

Dr Bareech condemned the IIUI president for issuing show-cause notice to award-winning Prof Dr Shahzad Ashraf for raising his voice over illegal appointments and corruption at the varsity. The IIUI administration had also stopped the salary of Dr Mubeen Siddiqui, which was condemnable. “We cannot tolerate the economic murder of teachers and demanded immediate release of salary to Dr Mubeen Siddiqui,” he added.

FAPUASA Punjab President Dr Javed Ahmed said the VCs had spoiled teaching and research environment in varsities. Imposition of Peeda Act on faculty members based on falsified and baseless charges and accusations was a manifestation of how the VC of UoS intended to decimate faculty members who pointed out his “illegal acts”. The VC had terminated Muhammad Farooq and initiated an inquiry against another senior, Prof Dr Ghulam Yassin.

FAPUASA Islamabad President Dr Shehzad Ashraf said they were going to meet their superiors to lodge a complaint against these VCs for maintaining vindictiveness and malice against teachers. He condemned the “illegal termination” of faculty members of Comsats whose Rector Dr Raheel Qamar was facing plagiarism charges.

He said the appointment of an inquiry officer -- probing alleged malpractices of the PIFD VC -- as registrar of the institution reflected the state of affairs of universities.

Association representatives from various universities of Punjab and the federal chapter demanded the president and chief justice of Pakistan to take notice of the situation and irregularities of the VCs.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2018