Karachi (HRNW) – Teachers of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST) staged a protest outside the Karachi Press Club, demanding the immediate payment of outstanding salaries, house ceiling allowances, pensions, medical benefits, and other pending dues.
The protesters later attempted to march towards the Governor House, but police stopped them from entering the city’s Red Zone.
According to the protesting teachers, the university has failed to pay house ceiling allowances for the past 26 months, pensions for four months, salaries for two months, and other outstanding financial benefits.
The teachers also alleged that Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zabta Khan Shinwari had issued legal notices seeking millions of rupees in damages against faculty members who raised concerns over the non-payment of salaries. They further alleged that female faculty members had been subjected to harassment.
The demonstrators urged President Asif Ali Zardari, who serves as the University’s Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr. Niaz Ahmed Akhtar to take immediate notice of the university’s financial and administrative issues and ensure that employees receive their pending payments without further delay.
The protesting faculty members warned that if their demands are not addressed promptly, they may expand their protest campaign.
Important Note
This report is based on statements made by protesting faculty members of the Federal Urdu University. The allegations have not been independently verified by HRNW. The university administration had not issued an official response to the claims at the time of publication.
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