HRCP slams action against teachers
LAHORE, Aug 21: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday took a serious exception to what it said the Punjab government’s abuse of law and its authority to harass and victimise the academic community.
In a press statement, HRCP Punjab vice-chairperson Hina Jilani condemned the threatened termination from service of Prof Nazim Husnain Shah, president of Punjab Professors and Lecturers Association, and senior teachers Prof Majid Wazir and Prof Muhammad Shafi Sabir.
Stating that the notices issued to them were an attempt to subdue the teachers’ community, Ms Jilani said the teachers were being targeted because of their record of voicing concerns over flaws in policies and practices of the government that had resulted in polluting the educational environment and cause dissatisfaction amongst the academia.
The HRCP official demanded of the provincial government to withdraw the illegal and unfair notices of termination against the three academicians. She said the government had resorted to disciplinary action against the teachers with frivolous allegations and this attitude was clearly vindictive and a blatant attempt by the authorities to subjugate the intellect of public servants.
The `draconian’ regulations that violated fundamental freedom could not be construed as legitimate limitations on the freedom of association, expression and assembly, she said and added that such an action would result only in damaging its public credibility even further.
PMA: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has warned that it will siege the education secretary’s office if he does not withdraw notices served on college teachers for their participation in lawyers’ rallies.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, PMA office bearers said that taking part in rallies to receive the chief justice of Pakistan was not treason and the department’s move was amounted to contempt of court.
Source: Dawn
Date:8/22/2007
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