PESHAWAR: Employees of the Islamia College, including its teachers, held a demonstration in front of the vice-chancellor’s office here on Thursday and started a two-hour boycott of classes and duties against non-acceptance of their demands, including regularisation of ad hoc employees and withdrawal of fee increase.

The employees have been protesting from the past 14 days to press the administration for acceptance of their demands, a press release said.

Under the banner of Joint Action Committee, the employees held a protest demonstration near the VC office and asked for resolution of their issues. They also marched to the UET Chowk where the speakers said that they had set up a protest camp three days ago that would continue till February 14 after which they would announce their next line of action.

They criticised the administration for what they called damaging academic scenario in the college and ignoring the employees, it said.

Islamia College Teachers Association president Prof Izhar Ahmed alleged that the administration was adamant to listen to their problems and ensure smooth sailing of the academic activities in the college.

He said that the enraged employees would consider options, including complete boycott of classes, if the administration failed to redress their grievances.

“We will expand the scope of our protest for the solution of our legal problems,” he said.

Prof Ahmed said that the attitude of the VC was not good towards the employees and warned of a complete boycott that would force the administration to accept their demands.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2022