LAHORE: Strong resentment has emerged among Punjab University teachers and employees following the registration of an FIR against office bearers of the university’s Joint Action Committee (JAC), which has been leading a 36-day protest over alleged corruption, financial irregularities and bad governance.
The FIR, registered at Muslim Town Police Station, names JAC Chairman Prof. Dr. Sardar Asghar Iqbal, Convener Prof. Dr. Kamran Abid, President Chaudhry Basharat Mahmood, General Secretary Tayyab Ejaz Khan and other members of the committee.
The Joint Action Committee has strongly condemned the cases, describing the move as an attempt to suppress what it considers a peaceful, constitutional and lawful campaign by teachers and employees.
According to the JAC, Punjab University teachers and staff have been staging peaceful protests for the past 36 days to raise concerns about alleged financial irregularities, corruption and administrative issues at the university. The committee said that demanding transparency, questioning administrative decisions and holding peaceful demonstrations are constitutional rights of citizens and employees.
The JAC expressed concern that the use of FIRs and police action against members of the protest could further increase tensions within the university community. It also alleged that the cases were registered against its elected leadership while the Vice Chancellor was abroad and the Pro Vice Chancellor was overseeing university affairs.
The committee questioned whether raising concerns about alleged corruption at a public-sector university had effectively become a criminal act. It argued that an academic institution should provide room for accountability, dialogue and dissent rather than respond to criticism through police cases.
The teachers’ representative body warned that any retaliatory action against its office bearers would be viewed as action against thousands of teachers, employees and their representative organisations.
Following the registration of the FIR, various representative bodies have reportedly begun holding executive meetings and preparing for emergency general body meetings to discuss the situation and determine their next course of action.
The JAC has warned that if attempts to stop the ongoing protest through FIRs, pressure or other measures continue, the movement could be expanded and intensified. The committee has also called on the Punjab government to take immediate, transparent and impartial notice of the allegations concerning financial and administrative matters at Punjab University.
The committee demanded that anyone found responsible for financial or administrative irregularities be held accountable and that the FIRs and alleged harassment of teachers and employees be withdrawn.
JAC office bearers have maintained that police cases, threats and pressure will not force teachers and employees to abandon their demands. They have vowed to continue their campaign over what they describe as corruption, financial irregularities and bad governance at the university.
The development is expected to remain a major point of concern within Punjab University as teachers, employees and their representative bodies consider their next steps.
