MULTAN, Dec 16: A seminar on `Research on Urdu language in universities — orientation and reforms’, organised by Urdu Department of Bahauddin Zakariya University, was held here.

Dr professor Rasheed Amjad presided over the seminar while professors of Urdu departments of all universities, including Dr Najeeb Jamal, Dr Sabir Kalori, Dr Muhammad Saleem Malik, Dr Syed Javed Iqbal, Dr Orangzaib Alamgir, Dr Alamdar Hussain Bokhari, Dr Khalid Mehmood Sanjrani, Dr Anwar Ahmed, Dr Aqeela Shaheen, Dr Qazi Abid, Dr Aqeela Javed, Dr Sajid Khan, Dr Mumtaz Kulyani and Dr Robeena Tareen, were also present on the occasion.

Participants expressed grave concern over the discriminatory attitude of the HEC, alleging that it was usurping the internal independence of universities.

They were all agreed on the eligible method for references, marginal notes and extra explanations for Urdu research.

The HEC, they said, had issued an approved list of magazines and newspapers for the departmental promotion of Urdu professors that was cancelled later on.

Proposing some 20 other newspapers and magazines along with another 39, they said all these newspapers and magazines were authorized and had a long history of publishing inside and outside the country. A new union `Urdu Development Committee of Urdu Teachers’ was also established while its body was also announced for a year.