PU teachers hold rally against metro train

LAHORE: Unrest among the Punjab University’s teachers is growing fast as the Punjab government allegedly is not responding to their demand for changing the plan for the proposed Orange Metro Train. The teachers have alleged that the project will deprive them of their housing society on Raiwind Road.
A large number of PU teachers and employees held a protest demonstration on The Mall outside the varsity’s Old Campus and demanded the chief minister immediately announce change of the plan to save their houses, which they built after 13 years of struggle.
Earlier, a general body meeting was held at Senate Hall, in which the representatives of the PU employees announced the support of all 8,000 employees and joined the teachers’ movement. The protesters blocked the road for a few minutes after hundreds of male and female teachers and employees took out a rally from Old campus to The Mall. The rally was led by PU-ASA president Dr Hasan Mobeen Alam and secretary Dr Mahboob Hussain.
The teachers wearing gowns gathered on both sides of the road and distributed pamphlets among the citizens. The demonstrators were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans in support of their demand to change the plan to build a shed on PU housing society land.
Addressing the participants, ASA leaders said they would not stop their demonstrations until a formal announcement comes from the CM or the LDA regarding change of the plan. The said Federation of All Pakistan Universities Staff Association (FAPUASA) was ready to hold countrywide demonstrations and close universities, however, they wanted authorities to realise the situation and change this plan. They said teachers were being forced to come on roads and boycott classes and exams.