GILGIT, May 17: About three hundred students and a few faculty members of the Karakuram International University on Monday took to the streets against the management for sacking an assistant professor without any solid reason. The protesters marched on roads and gathered in front of the Supreme Appellate Court building.

The protesters, chanting slogans against the university management, then marched towards the assembly where the chief minister met a delegation of the students and faculty members to learn about their reservations. The students accused varsity vice-chancellor, Dr Najma Aziz, of corruption.

The protesters later dispersed peacefully after the chief minister assured them that their demands would be met.

According to KIU management the associate professor serving in defence and strategic studies department on temporary basis was terminated for his 'misbehaviour', and that three more faculty members had been issued notices for violating code of conduct.

CABINET MEETS:

Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah, while chairing a cabinet meeting on Monday, expressed dismay over slow pace of work on ongoing uplift projects and directed the concerned quarters to speed up the work.

While briefing media after the meeting spokesman of the chief minister, Dr Ali Madad Sher, who is also the education minister, said the meeting reviewed pace of work on development projects. The meeting was informed by the public works department that out of 258 targeted projects 198 had been completed and remaining projects would be completed by June 30.

The chief minister told the meeting that ministers and bureaucrats should coordinate for betterment of the society.

The education minister said the cabinet approved regularisation of services of 83 sweepers working in various hospitals and government departments, and installation of security cameras at a cost of Rs60 million in Gilgit city.

He said the cabinet also approved upgradation of police recruit training centre to full-fledge school. The meeting banned hiring of non-custom paid vehicles by government departments after June.