FAPUASA observes black day, threatens boycott of classes

Islamabad:Academic Staff Association (ASA), Quaid-i-Azam University, observed a Black Day on the call of Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA) here Thursday.

Dr Mazhar Iqbal, President, ASA, led the Black Day demonstrations which included a peace walk, raising of slogans and display of placards in support of their demands. The protest was mainly against the FBR’s decision to revoke the 25% tax rebate for the academic community. The gathering remained resolute, underscoring the policy’s detrimental impact on higher education and urging the government to reconsider its stance.

Dr Mazhar, speaking on the occasion, said that the government’s policy change is a severe blow to the academics across Pakistan. He reiterated that ASA stands firmly with the academic community of Pakistan which shall continue to protest until the government reverses its policy.

Meanwhile, the Black Day was also observed in other public-sector universities across Pakistan against not only abolition of income tax rebate but also the new pension rules. The teachers’ representative body wants the restoration of leave encashment, increase in recurring grants and opposes the government policies and decisions aimed at ending the autonomy of universities and academic freedom.

FAPUASA in a statement condemned changes in universities acts regarding ASAs, and officers and employees associations/unions of public sector universities. According to the statement, in Punjab University, Karachi University, Peshawar University, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Balochistan University, UET, Lahore, COMSATS Islamabad, Sindh Madressatul Islam University, Islamia University, Bahawalpur, UAF, Peshawar, Islamia College University Peshawar, University of Swabi, Bacha Khan University Charsadda, Shah Abdul Latif University, Sindh, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, NED University, Abdul Wali Khan University, International Islamic University, Islamabad, University of Okara and GCU, Lahore, held protest rallies and raised slogans in favour of all their demands.

Dr Amjad Abbas Magsi, President, FAPUASA, said that the government should come to its senses and if this country has to move forward, it is impossible without special attention towards teaching community and educational institutions.

Dr Magsi stressed that the government needs to understand that the business model of public sector universities was not that they would generate their own income, but these universities actually run on government grants, he added. It is because of this grant that the fees of students are lower than private universities. If the government does not give grants to these universities or reduces them, then the door of education will be closed to the children of masses. He demanded that the government, along with restoring 25% tax rebate, withdraw the amendments in the pension rules and immediately issue disparity allowance for university teachers. The FAPUASA Presi­dent strongly criticised the proposal to abolish the autonomy of universities and giving the Chairpersonship of syndicates to the Minister of Education instead of Vice-Chancellors. He said that universities will never accept any such decisions and amendments in their Acts.