KARACHI, April 22: The Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association (SPLA) at an emergency meeting on Tuesday expressed concern over recent clashes between students’ groups at various educational institutions in the city and demanded of the authorities concerned to take strict measures to control violence.

The meeting, held at the Government DJ Science College with SPLA President Prof Syed Riaz Ahsan in chair, condemned city administration for, allegedly, condoning ‘rogue’ elements and for playing the role of silent spectator during the clashes and urged it to make efforts to restore peace at the academic institutions.

The SPLA also demanded of Sindh government to provide security to the staff and the students at these institutions.

The meeting also demanded departmental action against the officials of the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi, who, the meeting held, were responsible for non-issuance of admit cards to the students appearing in intermediate examinations in the city.

The SPLA also demanded of the BIEK to postpone intermediate examinations, at least for one week, in order to restore peace at the educational institutions and for completion of the process of admit cards distribution.

It also demanded assurance that if any member of the teaching or non-teaching staff sustained physical harm, while performing duty, he or she should be paid compensation for it.

The meeting decided that lecturers and professors would take part in examination process despite their reservations on many issues, however, it added that if their demands were not met, they would protest.

Meanwhile, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising teachers, students and doctors on Tuesday staged a massive protest demonstration in front of the Karachi Press Club (KPC) against denationalization of education and promulgation of the Model University Ordinance.

Various teachers, students and doctors’ associations, including the Karachi University Teachers’ Society (KUTS), SPLA, Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) and the Pakistan Medical Association, took part in the protest and chanted slogans in favour of their demands.

KUTS President Prof Sarwar Nasim, SPLA President Prof Syed Riaz Ahsan and others spoke.—PPI