ISLAMABAD: Deadlock between the protesting faculty and the vice chancellor of Quaid-i-Azam University continues, preventing academic activities at the university for the last four days.

Faculty members have been staging a sit-in in the university’s transport section since Monday, preventing buses from picking up students.

The protesting faculty have been calling for the removal of Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Ashraf, declaring him incompetent.

Meanwhile, the vice chancellor held a meeting with Minister of Education Balighur Rehman, during which he informed him of the situation at the university and updated him on the protest being carried out by the Academic Staff Association (ASA), a press release issued by the ministry said.

The minister expressed concern at the present undesirable law and order situation at the QAU campus.

The press release stated: “He extended his full support to QAU VC for maintaining law and order and asked him to take legal action against illegal activity at university campus.”

Speaking to Dawn, the vice chancellor said efforts are being made to restore academic activities at the university.

The ASA has claimed that the current vice chancellor and his policies have damaged the reputation of the highly ranked university, while the vice chancellor alleges that some faculty members were spearheading a campaign against him after they were denied undue promotions.

The ASA has said that an inquiry report by the Higher Education Commission also recommended the immediate removal of the vice chancellor and in interest of the university.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2018