PESHAWAR: Employees of the University of Peshawar called off their 45 days long strike on Tuesday after authorities assured them of the resolution of their all “genuine” issues.

The university will resume classes and administrative activities today (Wednesday).

The breakthrough in bilateral talks was announced by the joint action committee, which comprised members of the Peshawar University Teachers Association (Puta) and Class-III and Class-IV Association of the university.

The JAC said it had a successful dialogue with a three-member government team formed on the directives of chief secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry and consisting of administration secretary Manzoor Ahmad, higher education secretary Aneela Durrani and senior bureaucrat Riaz Mehsud.

During dialogue with protesters, authorities promise resolution of their ‘genuine’ issues

Secretary Manzoor told Dawn that the government had formed the panel to ensure an early resumption of academic and other work at the university.

“Strenuous efforts and long discussions effectively convinced the protesting employees to call off their strike. Our team promised the resolution of their genuine issues,” he said.

The secretary said to sort out all issues that led to the strike, a delegation led by the chief secretary called on provincial Governor Ghulam Ali last night.

“Mr Ghulam Ali played his official and constitutional role in the resolution of those issues. He assured the teaching community, administrative staff and officers of his full support,” he said.

The administration secretary said the chief secretary urged teachers during the dialogue to continue providing quality education to the students.

“I will always be there for the uplift of education,” he said.

Mr Manzoor said Puta president Dr Mohammad Uzair, vice-president Dr Sajjad Ahmad Jan and leaders Prof Fazli Nasir, Dr Shuja Ahmad and Prof Zakirullah Jan played a positive role during talks and that role brought the strike by employees to an end.

The university’s teachers and non-teaching employees had boycotted their duties on the call of their JAC on March 6, a day after the killing of security adviser of the university Saqlain Bangash by a private guard on campus.

The JAC demanded the immediate removal of the vice-chancellor, a judicial inquiry into the killing of the security supervisor, removal of weapons from the campus, and psychological examination of all guards.

In a statement after successful talks with authorities, the Puta said the teachers would “academically” compensate for the learning loss suffered by students during the strike.

Press secretary of the association Dr Zafar Khan said major demands of the teachers had been accepted by the university administration.

“The administration has agreed to award 15 per cent Disparity Reduction Allowance to employees as well as to withdraw the cut imposed on certain allowances,” he said.

Mr Khan also said the no objection certificate required by many teachers for higher education would be released at the earliest possible.

He said the administration had stopped the convenience allowance for teachers during the summer vacation, but it would be paid.

The Puta’s press secretary said the high-level committee, which negotiated with the JAC, also promised the filling of three vacant positions of deans and the holding of an independent inquiry into the alleged illegalities in the university’s administrative and financial affairs.

He said that under the agreement, the vice-chancellor would implement certain decisions through a notification soon, while those needing the consent of the university’s syndicate and senate would be placed before the two bodies for approval after the Eidul Fitr festival was over.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2023