UoE students protest outside Governor’s House

Lahore, A large number of students of the University of Education (UoE) staged a demonstration outside the Governor’s House here on Thursday and demanded removal of the varsity’s acting vice-chancellor while a protestor also tried to commit self-immolation.

The demo, which continued for a couple of hours, caused a great traffic mess on The Mall and many adjacent roads, owing to which the commuters had to face troubles.

The UoE students also demanded immediate restoration of the two faculty members, Dr MA Pasha and his wife Dr Shaheen Pasha, whose services were terminated by the acting VC Prof Farhat Saleem for their alleged incompetence. The protestors demanded Punjab Governor/Chancellor Latif Khosa to take notice of the issue and remove the acting VC, alleging that she was herself involved in academic corruption.

Most of the protesting students were from the Information Technology Department of the university, the department which was earlier headed by Dr MA Pasha. They alleged that the acting VC had sacked the two teachers owing to her personal grudge against them while further alleging that now the VC was also targeting the students who had raised voice for the sacked teachers. They said that about 38 students had been expelled from the university over the issue while their entry was also banned.

The students also expressed concerns over the Punjab government, saying that owing to the government policies, the students of the university were suffering.

A student, Umair, also tried set himself on fire by spraying patrol on his body. However, he was rescued by his fellow students and others present on the occasion.

A number of students on the occasion also threatened to commit suicide, saying their future was at stake while the government was not taking serious notice of the issue. They said that in such a situation, the entire responsibility would fall on the Punjab governor/chancellor and the Punjab government.

The protestors chanting slogans also alleged that bureaucracy was supporting the acting VC in the issue.

It is pertinent to mention here that on Wednesday, a student from the Punjab University’ Institute of Plant Pathology (IPP) had also tried to commit self-immolation in front of the VC’s office over the issue of non-equivalence of the institute’s degree. Talking to the reporters, the UoE students claimed that the committee, comprising two VCs of universities of Lahore, formed by the Punjab government over the issue, had decided in favor of Dr Pasha, adding however that the UE syndicate did not implement the decision.

It is learnt that later a delegation of protesting students was also invited by the Governor’s House staff and was assured that their genuine concern would be addressed. However, the meeting remained inconclusive and the students announced to continue their protest till fulfillment of all demands.

It is also pertinent to mention here that UoE acting VC Prof Farhat Saleem has been denying sacking of the teachers on personal grudge. According to her, the decision was taken in the interest of the university while on the other hand; the removed teachers had also been denying their incompetence.

A meeting of the UoE syndicate was held recently in which the report of the committee formed by the Punjab government was presented. However, no decision was taken and it was announced the same would be announced in another meeting of the syndicate.