HYDERABAD: A joint action committee of teachers and non-teaching staff announced on Monday the observance of one-hour token strike daily for a week, starting from today, in protest against the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) administration and warned if their demands were not met within the week, they would boycott work at hospitals in Hyderabad and Jamshoro as a last resort.

LUMHS officers association president Usman Butt, Liaquat University Staff Welfare Association president Sikandar Ali Junejo and LUMHS Teachers Association leaders said at a joint press conference at a local hotel on Monday that all teachers would wear black armbands, stage one-hour token strike and protest peacefully for a week.

“If the university administration fails to address genuine problems of the staff and teachers, we will be compelled to boycott completely classes, outpatient departments (OPDs) and operation theatres (OTs) and will only provide emergency cover at the hospitals,” said LUMHS teachers’ association general secretary Dr Rasool Bux Behan.

He appealed to chief justice of Pakistan, prime minister, president and Sindh chief minister to take immediate notice of the “deteriorating conditions” at the university.

LUMHS spokesperson dismissed the committee’s claims and said the varsity would continue to take disciplinary action against “delinquent” staff as per rules.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2018