Faculty members and students of National College of Arts (NCA) continued their strike for the extension in their teachers’ contracts on Tuesday. The protestors continued their boycott of classes for the second consecutive day. Teachers and students demanded the removal of NCA Principal Bashir Ahmad, alleging that he was appointed against rules, and asked for the appointment of a new principal through a new transparent process, in complete accordance with college rules and regulations.
The faculty members demanded that “illegal” order of terminating the contracts of Assistant Professor Arfan Ghani, Assistant Professor Aqeel Kazmi, Associate Professor Laila Rahman and Associate Professor Maryum Hussain be set aside. Students and the faculty members vowed to continue their strike until their demands were met.
Arfan Ghani told Pakistan Today that a successful movement against the existing administration was in process and a majority of students and faculty members was with him on the issue. He denied that he was exploiting the students for his vested interests and said that anyone could confirm the conduct of the terminated teachers.
“We are fighting for principles and not for personal interests, therefore teachers and students are with us. The current principal has been mocking rules for last 18 months and therefore he should be terminated. I hope that Board of Governors would take necessary action,” he said.
