Most teacher groups back independent against Friends group

PESHAWAR: Most of the teachers’ groups at the University of Peshawar (UoP) have put weight behind the ‘independent’ candidates against the ‘powerful’ ‘Friends’ group to break its monopoly over the Peshawar University Teachers Association (Puta) as election for the body is scheduled to be held on November 26 (Thursday).
The Friends group, which has ideological affinity with the Awami National Party (ANP), has fielded Dr Jamil Chitrali, the two-time former president of the association, as its candidate once again.
Prof Dr Bushra Hamid, dean faculty of Management Sciences, has joined the contest against Dr Jamil Chitrali in independent capacity. The other teachers’ groups including the Jamaat-e-Islami-backed Tanzim-e-Asatiza, Pakistan People’s Party-supported Progressive group and the seemingly independent Azad Group haven’t fielded their candidates for the office of president and are supporting Dr Bushra Hamid against Dr Jamil Chitrali.
For the vice-president, Dr Mukhtar Durrani of Friends would face Dr Yaseen Iqbal. For the post of general secretary Dr Mohammad Iqbal of Friends would contest against Dr Shahid Ali. For the office of finance secretary, Tanzim-e-Asatiza has fielded Azizuddin against Dr Mohammad Ismail of Friends group.
Tanzim-e-Asatiza is also contesting for the slots of literary secretary and media secretary. Its candidates Zaigham and Zulfiqar would contest against Salahuddin and Farooq of Friends for the two offices. The Tanzim-e-Asatiza has also fielded four candidates for executive members of Puta.The Friends group said it was seeking consensus on the Universities Act.