Teachers at the Federal Urdu University have announced a boycott of classes and examinations, following a similar protest by faculty members at the University of Karachi.
The decision was taken in a joint meeting of the teachers’ association from the Abdul Haq and Gulshan-e-Iqbal campuses in Karachi, where faculty members declared that they would continue the boycott until their demands are met.
The boycott will affect the ongoing academic activities at the university as well as examinations scheduled to begin on June 8.
During the meeting, teachers described the tenure of Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zabta Khan Shinwari as the university’s worst and demanded accountability for his administration. They called on Chancellor and President Asif Ali Zardari, as well as Pro-Chancellor and Federal Education Minister Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, to impose an educational emergency at the university and review the vice chancellor’s term.
In a resolution passed during the meeting, the teachers demanded full payment of house ceiling dues for teachers and employees and reversal of the 20 percent deduction imposed on the allowance.
They also called for payment of all pending salaries and pensions, as well as post-retirement benefits owed to retired employees.
The faculty further demanded that the selection board be convened immediately in line with vacancies advertised in 2022. They also asked for promotions for teachers nearing retirement under the hardship policy approved by the university senate.
Other demands included payment of dues to part-time teachers working in evening programs, withdrawal of the conditional admissions policy in departments, and adoption of a merit-based admissions system.
The resolution also called for reimbursement of salary deductions made against leave encashment and immediate restoration of medical panels at the university.
According to the joint declaration, the boycott of teaching and examinations will continue until the university administration accepts the teachers’ demands.
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