PESHAWAR: The employees of University of Peshawar (UoP) on Thursday boycotted their duty to protest what they called the failure of the administration to resolve their issues.

The UoP employees urged the government to resolve their issues within one-week otherwise they would decide next line of action.

According to a statement, the decision of boycott was taken in the meeting of a joint action committee (JAC) of teachers, Class-III and IV employees and sanitation staff of UoP. The meeting announced a complete boycott of classes, administrative work and official affairs.

The participants of the meeting said that the UoP administration failed to implement the terms and conditions of a previously agreed memorandum between JAC and the administration due to which they announced boycott from 8:30am to 1pm daily.

The JAC issued an eight-point charter of demands including implementation of the previous agreement, constitution of a judicial commission to probe the killing of Saqlain Banghash, resolution of fee issues of university employees, payment of DRA allowance, ad-hoc allowance and house requisition at federal government rates, increase in pay and pension staff and implementation of the previous agreement inked with the management of Islamic College University.

University of Peshawar had remained closed for 43 days due to the protest of teachers and other staffers. The protest ended after an agreement was signed between JAC and the administration of the university.

The university employees again threatened to go on strike if the agreement was enforced in letter and spirit. JAC president Dr Mohammad Aziz demanded suspension of UoP vice-chancellor, saying all the employees of the university would wear black armbands till acceptance of their demands.

He also complained against the attitude of some secretaries of provincial government and administration of UoP.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2023