Lahore, Employees of the Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) on Monday staged a massive demonstration, blocked Jail Road for over an hour and then staged a sit-in at Shadman Chowk for another hour to press the university administration into accepting their 14-point charter of demands.

The employees also burnt figurines of LCWU binding and former vice chancellor as well as varsity’s director administration and the estate officer. They echoed slogans against the university administration. Vehicular traffic remained choked and travelers faced problems even at the Jail Road which also got blocked due to congestion. The demonstrators dispersed when traffic police requested them that ambulances were also facing difficulties in approaching nearby hospitals.  

All-Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA) Punjab chapter president Muhammad Irshad, who had come to support the university employees, said the protests would continue till the acceptance of their demands. He said the cold shoulder given by the university administration might lead to the widening of protest base to provincial and later to national level.

Meanwhile, LCWU Vice-Chancellor Dr Sabiha Mansoor called an emergent press conference and told reporters that some elements were trying to disturb peace and tranquility on the campus to pursue their vested interests. Calling the demonstration a “deep-rooted conspiracy”, she said some senior members in the faculty were also provoking the employees to go for protests.

She announced that an inquiry committee had been constituted to look into the issues that led to the holding of a demonstration and identify those responsible and those provoking employees to stage demonstrations. She said the probe report would reach her on Friday.

The demands are: The university rules and regulations and service statutes and any amendment to the rules relating to BS-1 to BS-16 employees as well as complaints against any employee be sent to the association’s office; the varsity administration should finalise employees’ seniority list as well as introduce group insurance, benevolent fund and GP fund for the university employees to give them a feel of security of service; the employees’ wards should be given quota in jobs as well as in admission to various academic programmes in the university; the wards should be given concession in fee and other funds according to university rules; the employees should be given medical facility; the Grade-IV employees, who earn matriculation or higher qualification be given promotion opportunities; the university should introduce house requisition as was the case in other universities; employees be given overtime to those who work beyond working hours in the university; the employees who perform technical jobs should be given tool kits as well as technical allowance; and the university should take care of employees in case any mishap or emergency occurs.

Speaking to the protesters, Mr Islam and APCA leaders said the vice chancellor should accept these demands and give timeline in writing with regard to the implementation of these demands. “If these demands are not met immediately, the employees will add another demand of removal of the vice chancellor,” Islam said.

Condemning the employees for holding a demonstration, Dr Mansoor said some elements having vested interests were instigating employees and added that former vice-chancellor Prof Dr Bushra Mateen was also upset over employees’ reaction.

She said three retired army men had been appointed, including a chief security officer, and their appointment would soon be ratified by the LCWU Syndicate. Different faculties’ deans and departments’ chairperson were present at the news conference.