KARACHI, April 1: Rangers should be asked to vacate all educational institutions in the city and the University of Karachi should put in place an alternative security system rather than rely on the paramilitary force.

This was stated in a resolution passed unanimously by 350 teachers who attended a general body meeting of the Karachi University’s Teachers Society held at the arts auditorium on Tuesday afternoon.

The meeting was called after a professor of the applied chemistry department was beaten up by Rangers personnel on Monday.

University teachers also boycotted classes both in the morning and evening programmes to protest against the highhandedness of Rangers personnel. They were supported by students who put up banners inscribed with slogans condemning misconduct with the teacher, on the administration block.

The teachers passed the resolution demanding the removal of Rangers from the campus and other educational institutions.

The resolution demanded that Rangers be asked to leave educational institutions like schools, colleges, universities and even hostels. There should also be some alternative security system having educated people, said a KUTS spokesman.

For the time being, the teachers demanded, Rangers be removed from the university’s main gates and the campus security personnel be assigned the job.

One of the professors who participated in the protest meeting, Dr Shafiqur Rehman, who heads the economics department, said: “The incident was disgraceful and cannot be justified under any circumstances.”

He said that Dr Riaz Ahmed of the applied chemistry department was seriously injured and was taken to a private hospital for treatment.

“Would these officers dare treat any civil servant or a minister in the manner in which they behaved with the professor?” he wondered.

Following the meeting, the resolution was presented to the vice-chancellor of Karachi University, Dr Pirzada Qasim, by KUTS representatives.

Dr Qasim promised to them that he would take up the issue and formed a committee to investigate the matter.

The committee comprises Prof (Dr) Majeedullah Qadri, Prof Khalid Iraqi and Prof (Dr) Zafar Iqbal.

He asked KUTS to come up with suggestions on the alternative security arrangement. Earlier, the VC met some high officials of Rangers in the morning and apprised them about the situation.

However, a spokesman for the Rangers, Captain Fazal, said: “Soon after a clash between two students’ groups on Monday, the Rangers were asked to tighten security. Furthermore, they were asked to keep the university’s gates closed as there were chances that some armed people might get in.”

He said that Dr Ahmed turned up at the Silver Jubilee Gate in his car which he was driving so fast that he hit the Rangers personnel who tried to stop him.

“He was asked again and again to use the other gate meant for the teachers, known as the Staff Gate, but he was adamant that he would use only Silver Jubilee Gate,” he added.

According to the spokesman, when Dr Ahmed was not allowed [to leave through the Silver Jubilee Gate], he used abusive language and pushed one of the Rangers personnel who fell. The two became involved in a brawl, he said.

Captain Fazal denied that the teacher had been beaten up at all. On the contrary, he insisted that it was the Rangers man who got injured and had one of his fingers fractured.

The Rangers spokesman alleged that Dr Ahmed was known for his political ambitions.