ISLAMABAD: After students, the faculty of one of Pakistan’s top-ranked universities, Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) on Monday, locked down the university completely to press the authorities for their demands which resulted in the suspension of all academic and official activities at the campus. According to the available information, almost all of the faculty gathered at the university’s transport interchange early on Monday and closed off the transport section. However, as per sources, the administration managed to remove a few buses from the premises and parked them elsewhere. The protesters also locked off the administration block of the university. Their sole demand was the resignation of QAU’s Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Ashraf, citing incompetence. The protesting faculty quoted an inquiry report compiled by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) on the direction of President Mamnoon Hussain, who is also the chancellor of the university, to examine functioning of some academic and financial affairs of QAU. The commission prepared a 73 pages inquiry report, the copy of which is available with Daily Times; stated that the incumbent vice chancellor was “not fit for this job and should be removed from the post immediately”. It added that he supported his favourite faculty members while giving them promotions and other privileges. The report also stated that the university did not take any concrete steps to fill key positions which had been lying vacant since years. Currently, according to available statistics, almost of all of the faculty of QAU went on strike and boycotted the classes that commenced from February 26. Dr Javed Ashraf says that some representatives of the Academic Staff Association (ASA) were major orchestrators of the campaign against him, adding that actually they were rejected for undue promotions due to which they started to agitate other faculty members to blackmail him. QAU has been the centre of controversy for the past many years now. Recently, its students held a protest demonstration for more than 30 days, which was then called off after the intervention by education minister and some senators. The faculty had also written a letter to Mamnoon Hussain, in which they demanded the resignation from the incumbent vice chancellor. However, the sources claimed, that no one from the concerned authorities paid any heed towards finding a possible solution of the issue. “The President’s House, the HEC and the federal minister of education who is also the pro-chancellor of QAU are silent spectators,” said an official wishing anonymity. Moreover, in a press statement on Monday, the ASA confirmed that “transport service was totally suspended and no academic activity was being conducted”. It further added that the momentum of the strike will continue unless the resignation of the VC is attained. “We will not be deterred by any threat/caution or warning from the administration or from anywhere else,” the ASA reaffirmed. Published in Daily Times, March 13th 2018.