Punjab University teachers outraged over FIR against Joint Action Committee leaders

Teachers and employees at Punjab University have expressed strong anger and concern following the registration of an FIR against office-bearers of the university’s Joint Action Committee.

LAHORE: Teachers and employees at Punjab University have expressed strong anger and concern following the registration of an FIR against office-bearers of the university’s Joint Action Committee.

According to the Joint Action Committee, an FIR has been registered at Muslim Town Police Station against its Chairman Professor Dr Sardar Asghar Iqbal, Convener Professor Dr Kamran Abid, President Chaudhry Basharat Mahmood and Secretary General Tayyab Ejaz Khan, among other officials.

The committee described the move as an attempt to suppress what it called the teachers’ and employees’ peaceful, constitutional and legal struggle. It said its members could not be silenced through cases, threats, pressure or alleged retaliatory tactics.

The Joint Action Committee said Punjab University teachers and employees had been holding a peaceful protest for 36 consecutive days, raising concerns over alleged financial irregularities corruption and poor governance under the vice chancellor.

The committee maintained that demanding transparency, questioning administrative decisions and peacefully raising concerns about institutional affairs were constitutional and legal rights.

It expressed particular concern over the FIR at a time when the vice chancellor is reportedly abroad and the pro-vice chancellor is performing the vice chancellor’s duties.

Committee representatives questioned whether raising concerns about alleged corruption and financial irregularities at the university had effectively become a criminal offence. They also asked whether teachers and employees should not be allowed to question the use of university resources, financial affairs and administrative decisions.

The committee warned that any retaliatory action against its office-bearers would not be viewed as an action against individuals alone, but as an action against the wider university community and its representative organisations.

Following the FIR, representative organisations of Punjab University teachers and employees have reportedly called executive meetings to discuss the situation. Preparations are also underway for emergency general body meetings.

The Joint Action Committee warned that if pressure tactics and legal action continued, the ongoing protest movement would be expanded and intensified.

The committee also appealed to the Punjab government to take immediate, transparent and impartial notice of the allegations concerning the university’s financial and administrative affairs. It demanded accountability for anyone found responsible for irregularities and called for a review of the FIR and any alleged retaliatory actions against teachers and employees.

The committee said Punjab University was a historic national educational institution rather than the property of any individual or group. It pledged to continue its campaign for institutional transparency, autonomy, financial accountability and protection of the university’s dignity.