LAHORE: Punjab University Academic Staff Association (PUASA) general body meeting was held on Wednesday amid a parallel controversy over its legitimacy, attendance and internal divisions within the faculty.

The current PUASA body emerged as a result of an election in which the Council of Professionals (CoP) and Teachers Alliance (an electoral combination of the Academic Group and Teachers Front) contested against rival candidates.

In the poll, the CoP secured the presidency and one council seat out of the 12, while the Teachers Alliance won two vice president slots (Science and Arts), besides offices of the secretary general, joint secretary, finance secretary and five council members.

Against this backdrop of internal division, the general body meeting was called by the secretary. PUASA President Dr Amjad Abbas Khan Magsi did not attend the meeting and issued a statement, saying he would neither attend nor endorse, what he described as a “so-called general body meeting,” alleging that attempts were made to prevent it from being convened.

The meeting was chaired by Vice President (Science) Prof Dr Abdul Rahman Khan Niazi, who is also serving as acting president of the body, while PUASA Secretary Dr Kamran Abid presented the organisational report and briefed members on the agenda matters.

Dr Magsi further claimed that the prevailing environment within the association had become tense due to internal confrontation and reiterated his stance that academic platforms must not be used for “pressure tactics or institutional disruption.”

The participants of the meeting raised concerns over salary deductions, delays in Selection Boards, alleged discriminatory implementation of the “one person, one post” policy, suspension of faculty benefits, and delays in promotions. Speakers said these issues were causing “serious mental and financial stress” among the faculty members.

Dr Abid stated that salary deductions and delays in promotion processes had created uncertainty among teachers and demanded that the administration resolve these issues on a priority basis to protect the PU’s academic environment.

The meeting unanimously passed six resolutions, calling for improved governance, financial stability and protection of faculty rights.

The resolutions demanded that the vice chancellor should focus on strengthening the university’s financial and institutional health, and that all statutory bodies, including the Senate, Syndicate, Selection Board, Finance and Planning Committee, and Academic Council, be convened regularly to ensure transparency, consultation and merit.

The meeting participants also called for immediate convening of Selection Boards for pending promotions and restoration of suspended faculty benefits.

In a separate statement, Dr Magsi strongly criticised what he termed “abusive language and disorderly conduct” during recent internal meetings, saying such behaviour had damaged the dignity of the academic community.

He said the teachers must avoid confrontation and focus on institutional stability.

He also urged the VC to complete an inquiry into the April 23 incident and ensure transparent implementation of its findings.

Dr Magsi further demanded that reports on Town-III and the incomplete School of Economics building project be presented before the Syndicate for accountability and transparency.

He called for constitution of an impartial committee, in line with Lahore High Court directions, on the matter of the appointment of Dr Abid, early convening of Selection Board meetings and immediate release of pending research and performance-based payments.

Meanwhile, a PU spokesman also questioned the legitimacy of the General Body meeting, claiming it did not meet the required quorum of 75 full-time faculty members.

He said only around 20 to 25 teachers were present when the resolutions were passed, as reflected by the photographs of the meeting.

The spokesman further alleged that more than 900, out of over 1,000 teachers, did not attend the meeting, interpreting it as a lack of confidence in the current leadership of the Teachers Alliance group.

Rejecting allegations against the administration, he said the university’s financial position had improved through revenue generation, cost-saving measures, and enhanced transparency under a one-account policy.

He cited savings of Rs240 million in electricity expenses through energy audits and anti-theft measures, and Rs220m generated from shop rentals through open bidding and market-based rates.

He added that policies such as “one man, one post” and rotation had been implemented to improve efficiency, while statutory bodies were already functioning according to schedule. Salary deductions, he clarified, were made on provincial government instructions.

The developments highlight continuing factionalism within the PU’s academic staff body, with disputes over governance, representation and administrative policy showing little signs of resolution.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2026