Karachi University teachers stage protest against 'administrative indifference'


IV Report

KARACHI: Teachers at the University of Karachi (KU) staged a whole-day protest demonstration on the varsity premises on December 19, voicing their concerns against the reported financial crisis of the university and administrative indifference towards their colleagues.

The protest, observed as a "Black Day," was called to demand the withdrawal of a termination letter issued to Dr Munawwar Rasheed, an assistant professor at the Centre of Excellence in Marine Biology (CEMB), KU. The teachers alleged that the termination was made with a retrospective effect, without giving any prior information to Dr Rasheed.

A senior teacher, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the KU administration had taken an "uncalled-for" action against Dr Rasheed, who was employed under the Higher Education Commission (HEC) introduced Tenure Track System (TTS). The teacher claimed that only the federal government had the authority to withdraw the TTS, and that the administration's action was in contravention of this rule.

The teachers also expressed their disappointment with the Karachi University Teachers Society (KUTS), which they claimed had remained indifferent to their concerns. Despite a formal request made to KUTS to convene a general body meeting to discuss the issue, no response had been received, the teachers said.

This is not the first time that teachers at KU have expressed their concerns against the administration. In October, teachers had gathered under the banner of the "Faculty Assembly" to protest the reported financial crisis and administrative indifference towards teachers. The teachers had then resolved to approach the KU chancellor for intervention.

The ongoing unrest on the campus, which has been continuing for over three months, has also been marked by protests from students and teachers on various issues. Despite repeated attempts, the KU administration and KUTS office-bearers have remained unavailable for comment.

The teachers have vowed to continue their protest until their demands are met, and have called for the immediate withdrawal of the termination letter issued to Dr Rasheed.

     

With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

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