LAHORE, Oct 24: Thousands of students, teachers and doctors held a demonstration at the New Campus of Punjab University here on Thursday to protest against the boards of governors in educational institutions and hospitals and the proposed Model University Ordinance.

Holding banners and placards bearing inscriptions against the BoGs and MUO, the protesters marched from the Faisal Auditorium to the campus bridge, where they stayed for a while and chanted slogans against President Musharraf and Governor Khalid Maqbool.

The riot police were present on the occasion, but they stood on the sidelines throughout.

The participants took oath on the Holy Quran to continue their protest till withdrawal of the what they termed as anti-education and anti-health policies of the government.

Teachers and students all over the country also boycotted classes after 10am on Thursday and staged rallies to protest against the government policies.

Joint Action Committee leaders also announced constitution of a national forum to motivate people from all walks of life into joining the protest campaign. They included Nazim Hasnain, Prof Dr Haris Rashid, Majid Wazir, Azam Butt, Rana Liaquat, Kamran Rafi, Arshad Chaudhry, Dil Mohammad Mirza, Naveed Anwar and many from other provinces as well.

They said the people had rejected the boards of governors, privatization of educational institutions through the so-called Model University Ordinance and contractual employment of teachers and doctors, but their objections seemed to be falling on deaf ears in the government.

The JAC leaders vowed never to allow the government to impose the IMF and World Bank agenda on the people of Pakistan. They said they were ready to sacrifice their lives to achieve their objectives.

They warned the government to respect public opinion and withdraw the BoGs, MUO and the contractual mode of appointment or face countrywide agitation.

They said the government’s negative tactics like sacking, suspending or transferring teachers and doctors could not stop them from protesting against the wrongdoings. They alleged that the government was also harassing teachers and students through principals and headmasters.

Dr Yasmin Rashid held the governor responsible for the situation. She also criticized the arrest of orthopaedic surgeon Dr Amir Aziz and demanded his immediate release.

JAC chairman Nazim Hasnain announced that the next demonstration would be held at Islamia College Railway Road on Oct 28. He said teachers, doctors and students would continue to hold demonstrations every Monday and Thursday till the acceptance of their demands.

Meanwhile, some senior teachers of the Punjab University told Dawn that they were not taking part in the protest campaign, as some student organizations had overshadowed teachers’ presence at the demonstrations. However, they fully supported the JAC point of view, they added.