A joint meeting of the Federal Urdu University of Art, Science and Technology (Fuuast) Retired Teachers and Employees Committee and civil society representatives has demanded that the prime minister intervene directly for immediate payment of outstanding dues and pensions to the retired teachers and employees of the varsity.
The meeting was held at the Karachi Press Club and chaired by Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Vice-Chair (Sindh) Qazi Khizar Habib.
The speakers informed that pensions of retired teachers and employees of the Urdu University had not been paid for the last five months, while the issue of unpaid arrears had been persisting for several years.
They said that during this period, 12 employees and more than five teachers passed away, yet their legal dues had still not been paid to their families. The participants highlighted that widows and children of the deceased were facing severe financial hardship and mental distress, turning the situation into a clear humanitarian crisis.
The participants expressed serious concern over the fact that while retired teachers and employees were deprived of basic necessities of life and being subjected to grave human rights violations, the university’s vice chancellor continued to draw a hefty salary and perks.
This, they said, was in violation of the recommendations of the university chancellor, President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, and the Higher Education Commission.
It was said that the allegations of harassment against the vice chancellor had been proved, and courts had declared him guilty, but he continued to hold office and had failed to comply with the orders of the Federal Ombudsman, raising serious questions about the rule of law and institutional transparency.
The participants urged the prime minister to take immediate notice of the situation.
They demanded a prompt release of pensions and all outstanding dues of retired teachers and employees of Fuuast, and called for a comprehensive and transparent review of ongoing administrative, financial, and legal irregularities within the university.
The meeting was attended by Dr Tauseef Ahmed Khan, Dr Riaz Sheikh of Szabist, Fuuast Senate member Mahnaz Rahman, Masood Ahmed Khan, Saeed Ahmed Usmani, Karachi Union of Journalists’ Tahir Hassan Khan and the HRCP’s Sohail Sangi along with teachers and journalists.
