LAHORE, June 3: The Tanzeem-i-Asataza Pakistan has threatened to launch a massive movement against the government if it did not accept teachers’ demands.

Speaking at a joint press conference here on Sunday, union office-bearers demanded that at least 10 per cent of the gross national product (GNP) must be allocated for the education sector to achieve the target of literate Pakistan.

Opposing NGOs’ increasing intervention in every sphere of life, they said it was affecting the `ideological’ basis of the country.

They also condemned the policy of commercialisation of colleges in the name of privatisation.

The teachers were of the view that the National Testing System was tantamount to `no-confidence’ move against the prevailing examination system of the country. They said that implementation of the system in universities had opened doors to corruption to the dismay of the promising students.

They demanded release of the teachers arrested during their ongoing protest movement and withdrawal of cases against them.

Central president Prof Ata Muhammad Jafri, secretary general Rao Jaleel Ahmad, provincial chief Rana Asghar Ali and Punjab University Academic Staff Association president Prof Mumtaz Salik also spoke on the occasion.

Meanwhile, a joint action committee comprising teachers, students, doctors and lawyers has condemned the Punjab University’s decision of postponing examinations and forcing students to evacuate hostels by announcing summer vacation.

They termed the decision unjustified, saying it would affect studies of students and demanded its immediate withdrawal.

These views were expressed at a protest meeting held at University’s hostel No 8 late on Saturday night.

Supreme Court Bar Association vice-president Sahibzada Anwar Habib, PU Academic Staff Association secretary Dr Esmatullah, PPLA president Prof Nazim Hasnain, Muttahida Asataza Mahaz leader Muhammad Zarrar, Islami Jamiat Talaba leader Atiqur Rahman, and others spoke.