KARACHI, Nov 22: The teachers' fraternity at the University of Karachi has decided not to perform academic or administrative duties on Wednesday to protest at the beating of a senior teacher of science faculty at the hands of some activists of a major student organization.

Sources on the campus said a few of the students at the behest of a student of the geology department on Tuesday entered the room of an associate professor Mujib Ahmad and beat him up after closing the door and finally escaped.

It was learnt that the second year student of the department was not allowed to sit in the semester examination on Monday by Mr Mujeeb for want of attendance which was required under the university rules.

The chairman of the geology department later informed the vice-chancellor in writing that a day earlier, one student Adeel had threatened the teacher of dire consequences for not being allowed to sit in the examination.

This is second major incident of manhandling teachers by student activists during the week. Only on Friday last, a group of students from outside created scene at D J Science College and manhandled teachers for unknown reasons.

After hearing the news about insulting behaviour towards the teacher, office bearers of Karachi University Teachers Society and other teachers who were busy in their annual elections stopped the polling process and rushed towards the department. KUTS also held a meeting with Prof Suhail Barkati, President, in the chair, at the geology department.

KUTS secretary Sarwar Nasim said after initial enquiries, the teachers' body was firm that students responsible be given exemplary punishment.

He said that the meeting unanimously decided to put off the respective assignments on Wednesday and observed a strike and they wore black arm bands on Wednesday.

Teachers will gather at 11.30am to express solidarity with teachers hurt by students on Wednesday, while counting of votes for society elections would be deferred till the next KUTS meeting on Thursday.

Meanwhile, a university spokesman said the vice-chancellor as well as the university administration had condemned the heinous development at the geology department.

The VC, Dr Pirzada Qasim, has also constituted a committee under the pro vice-chancellor, Dr Akhlaq Ahmad, to conduct an enquiry and recommend necessary measures at the earliest.

The VC and PVC also visited the geology department on Wednesday and heard details from the aggrieved teachers and assured them of all justice.

Mr Mujeeb informed the VC in writing that two unknown students insulted him and subjected him to torture in his room in the afternoon, said another source, adding past academic and attendance record of the student was also not much satisfactory.

In the meantime, central president of the Sindh Professors and Lectures’ Association, Prof Manzoor Chishti, and a senior office-bearer Prof Riaz Ahsan had also expressed concern over the incident and demanded that the students be given punishment and debarred from the university.

They also urged the home minister to fulfil his commitment regarding protection of teachers and taking to task the culprits, which he made only on Monday.