Teachers association challenges violations of fundamental rights

Islamabad:In a ground-breaking move, the All Public Universities BPS Teachers Association (APUBTA) has decided to pursue legal action in the Supreme Court of Pakistan against what they claim is a gross infringement of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the abuse of fundamental human rights within the nation's higher education institutions.

The decision follows allegations of an abuse of authority by the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, and certain Vice Chancellors (VCs) of public sector universities, who have been accused of actions that directly contravene the constitution and encroach upon the fundamental rights of university teachers.

APUBTA, under the leadership of its President, Dr. Sami ur Rehman, expressed grave concerns about Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad's conduct, contending that he has exploited his office and powers in an attempt to not only deprive over 50,000 BPS teachers of their rightful promotions but also to undermine the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan.

The core committee of APUBTA has pointed out that the constitution guarantees crucial rights such as freedom of movement, the right to peaceful assembly, freedom of association, and freedom of expression under Articles 15, 16, 17, and 19. It has come to light that a few Vice Chancellors, acting on the directives of Chairman HEC, issued unconstitutional and unlawful orders to hinder university teachers from participating in a sit-in protest in front of the HEC headquarters in Islamabad on October 31. Subsequently, some VCs initiated actions against the teachers who took part in the protest.

APUBTA, in alliance with other teachers' associations, has strongly condemned these measures as flagrant violations of the constitution and abuses of human rights. They have steadfastly resolved to protect the fundamental human rights of university teachers and have decided to challenge the illegal notifications issued by certain VCs in the superior judiciary.

The core committee further expressed concern about an emergency meeting of the syndicate called by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Kotli, Azad Kashmir, and has confirmed its commitment to exercise their constitutional rights and employ all legal means to counter any actions taken by VCs.

Additionally, APUBTA has established a complaint cell and a legal committee to address such cases and intends to collaborate with human rights organizations to ensure that any illegal actions are properly challenged.

This bold move by APUBTA underscores their unwavering commitment to upholding the constitution and safeguarding the fundamental human rights of university teachers in Pakistan. It sets a landmark precedent in the fight for the protection of fundamental rights within the country's education sector.