LAHORE: Following the controversy on prominent academic Dr Ammar Ali Jan’s removal from Punjab University as ‘Assistant Professor’, the varsity has now officially stated that ‘Ammar Ali Jan was refrained from teaching as the administration had received information that he was fanning anti-state, ethnic and extremist ideas after targeting students and not giving joining as per appointment orders’.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Punjab University had previously categorically denied any role of Jan’s political views in ‘the withdrawal of appointment offer’, saying that ‘PU administration does not interfere in teachers’ private lives or political leanings’.
Also read: ‘Fired for political views’, Ammar Ali Jan to take PU to court
Following is the unedited media release issued by Punjab University on Wednesday April 18, 2018.
“The Punjab University spokesman has said that PU’s visiting lecturer Ammar Ali Jan was refrained from teaching as the administration had received information that he was fanning anti-state, ethnic and extremist ideas after targeting students and not giving joining as per appointment orders. He said that Mr Ammar Jan had not been fired from the job since he was not regular/contract employee of the university but he had pressurized the administration in the past for his regular appointment without participating in competition. He said that it was the policy of incumbent administration not to make appointments without advertisement and since January, no appointment has been made in violation of prescribed rules. In a press statement, the spokesman said that as per the record of activities in social media being controlled by Mr Ammar Jan and his accomplices and the information received from different quarters, they had been found involved in organizing suspicious study circles and other activities to malign the minds of young students. The spokesman said that many students on the condition of anonymity and some media persons reported to the administration that Mr Ammar Jan was provoking some targeted students to participate in such activities which may lead to damaging peace and tranquility on campus and overall in the country. The spokesman said against the university’s code of conduct, Mr Jan was not focusing on teaching students rather he used to choose students whom he could target and preach his extremist ideas. The spokesman said that PU had provided a good opportunity for students belonging to other provinces to interact with each other and promote national harmony. However, he said, Mr Jan was reportedly making such efforts to deepen ethnic divisions. The spokesman clarified further that Mr Jan was providing misleading information to media persons that PU did not give him any salary and he had not availed any financial benefit from PU. As per record, Mr Jan was appointed for a period of three months on contract basis on 22-06-2017 in violation of the rules laid down in university calendar and any competition for the seat. He said that Mr Jan did not sign his salary bill and did not send it to the relevant staff, which showed that ‘salary was not his concern’. He said that since he never signed his salary bill, the university was not able to pay him salary. He said that even after completing three months of his contractual appointment, he did not demand his salary. The spokesman said that during his around 9 month stay at the university, he never wrote any letter to PU administration that he was not being paid any salary or never uttered any such demand at any forum. He said that it was very astonishing that how Mr Jan was meeting his expenditures without salary and why he did not show any concern in this regard. However, the spokesman said, Mr Jan was paid Rs 81,900 for teaching extra classes at Institute of Social and Cultural Studies. After expiry of three month contract, he said, the university again offered him a contract but Mr Jan did not submit his joining report and defied the terms and conditions of contractual appointment. Subsequently, as per policy in vogue, his appointment order was withdrawn back in January 2018, he added. The spokesman said that it was a routine matter that visiting teachers were changed on various grounds but Mr Jan was involved in point scoring and gain sympathies on political grounds. The spokesman said that at the present time, every PU teacher was enjoying academic freedom. He said that this was lame excuse of Mr Jan that he was raising voice for women etc because of which he has been victimized. The spokesman said that there was a large number of teachers on campus who were far more active than Mr Jan and had made practical efforts to raise voices against several types of injustices in society but they had never complained any victimization on such grounds. He said that the university had also advertised various teaching positions at Institute of Social and Cultural Studies but Mr Jan never dared to take part in the competition and did not apply for the said posts.”