PESHAWAR, Jan 23: The Union for Freedom of Writers (UFW) has expressed concern over the removal of a teacher of the University of Peshawar and has demanded that his job be restored.

Speaking at a news conference, the chairman of UFW, Anwar Khan, said that a local teacher, Dr Zahoor Ahmed Awan was removed from the Department of Urdu of the university on January 19, reportedly on account of his column in a local daily on January 12, wherein he had opposed the appointment of retired army generals as heads of universities and examination boards.

According to him, Dr Zahoor Ahmed Awan had been teaching at the Department of Urdu for the last two years. He was being paid Rs5,000 per month as honoraria. He said that Dr Awan, being the author of 40 books was a senior columnist and used to write on different issues of public interest.

"He had just pointed out that there is no shortage of highly qualified educationists in the province, and there was no need to appoint retired army generals to the important posts, because they lacked experience", said Anwar Khan.