KARACHI: Effectively backed by teachers, the non-teaching staff at Karachi University (KU) managed to hold a well-attended sit-in on the campus on the first day of its strike on Monday.

The day saw fiery speeches by KU employees, who gathered in the lawns of the administrative block and raised slogans in favour of their demands.

They condemned the issuance of explanation letters to selected protesters by the university administration, calling for the immediate release of funds for leave encashment, pending arrears, reimbursement of medical bills and remuneration of evening classes delayed for more than a year.

The call for the pen-down strike was given by Employees’ Welfare Association of KU (EWAKU) and other groups representing the non-teaching staff.

“We will not back off from our demands and there will be zero tolerance towards any more injustices,” said EWAKU president Irfan Khan, adding that the employees would not perform their academic, administrative and examination duties till acceptance of their demands.

In his remarks, Karachi University Teachers’ Society President Prof Shah Aliul Qadr extended full support to the non-teaching staff members on behalf of the society.

“We want our rights and not any favours from the university administration,” he said, adding that participation of KU employees in that gathering in large numbers was a sign of success.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2024