LAHORE, Dec 15: Two faculty members of the Punjab University Law Colleges on Saturday created a scene on the campus when they had a physical fight on salary issue during which they also used abusive language against each other.

Dr Amanullah Malik, who is on two-year ex-Pakistan leave and teaches International Human Rights Law at the South Asian University, New Delhi, India, told Dawn that he had left for the neighbouring country on September 3 but the law college acting principal Samee Uzair stopped his August salary.

He said Mr Uzair even did not respond to the emails he sent him from India and eventually he (Dr Malik) had to send an email to the PU vice-chancellor, requesting him to get his salary released.

Dr Malik said he had returned to Pakistan on vacation after the completion of first semester at the Indian varsity a couple of days ago and was sitting in the room of a college teacher, Iftikhar Tarar, when Mr Uzair came there and started misbehaving with him. Dr Malik alleged Mr Uzair uses abusive language against his family members for sending email to the vice-chancellor.

At this provocation, it is learnt, Dr Malik hit the principal with his bag ensuing a brawl between the two teachers, leaving both of them injured. Principal Mr Uzair got an injury near his left eye, while Dr Malik’s spectacles were broken.

Dr Malik said that he called police emergency 15 and Muslim town police reached the college campus.

On the other hand, Mr Uzair said Dr Malik was on without-pay ex-Pakistan leave and was supposed to pay back Rs150,000 loan he had obtained from the college funds.

He said that he had also issued a notice to Dr Malik when he did not return even the first monthly installment of Rs5,000 of the loan.

“When Dr Malik visited my office for an NOC he required to proceed to India, he committed that he would return the loan within a week’s time. I signed the NOC. However, he did not return the loan. He had to again return to me for another NOC,” Mr Uzair said.

“This time, Dr Malik committed that he would give post-dated cheques for payment of loan installments. However, he left for India without returning the loan or giving post-dated cheques,” Mr Uzair explained.

Mr Uzair alleged that Dr Malik also sent him different emails, wherein he used derogatory language but he (Uzair) did not reply.

“I had no option but to stop his August salary to recover the money because Dr Malik was no more a PU employee for the time being,” he added.

He alleged that Dr Malik used abusive language against him when he entered Mr Tarar’s room. He said that Dr Malik hit him on his face with his laptop bag. He alleged that Dr Malik also used abusive language in college corridor, where many students gathered.

Mr Uzair said that he called Faculty of Law Dean Prof Dr Liaquat Ali, who came there along with additional registrar Prof Dr Aurangzeb Alamgir and tried to resolve the matter.

It is learnt that both Dr Malik and Mr Uzair have written separate applications to the vice-chancellor, describing the incident that led to a physical fight between them.

Dean Prof Dr Liaquat Ali said that he sent the police back telling them it was university’s administrative matter and would be resolved amicably. “The vice-chancellor will take up this case tomorrow,” he added.