ISLAMABAD, June 26: As strike and protest by the workers of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) seeking transfer of their vice-chancellor continued on Tuesday, the Academic Staff Association (ASA) has started playing its role in resolving the issue.

The ASA in a resolution adopted at an emergency meeting said that the violence by some protesting workers would not do any good, but rather damage the university’s image.

They condemned the use of abusive language against the senior academic staff (professors) during the strike.

Addressing the meeting, the ASA’S President Professor Dr Syed Zafar Ilyas and General Secretary Dr Mohammad Ajmal expressed the hope that the workers would hold talks with the five-member committee constituted by the vice chancellor Prof. Dr. Nazir Ahmed Sangi.

The ASA called for implementing the recommendations made by the Residence Allotment Committee to facilitate the workers. It also demanded increase in the PHD allowance to Rs9,750, and filling the vacant posts of teachers through advertisement.

They also sought improved medical facilities their members and bringing Shifa International, Aga Khan Hospital, CMH and MH hospital on the university’s panel.

They also demanded that in case of emergency medical treatment might be allowed at any hospital. It also demanded that the academic staff having PhD degree be promoted in the next grade.

The ASA also adopted a separate resolution expressing solidarity with the teachers of Sindh University who were dismissed by the administration.

Employees of the university, Sajid Mehmood, Faqueer Hussain, Ismail, Chaudhry Asghar, Bilawal Khan, Shabir and others said that they would continue their protest till the acceptance of their demands.