GCU observes black-day over professor’s murder

• Faculty members hold on-campus walk demanding justice for the deceased

LAHORE: An on-campus walk was held on Friday at the Government College University (GCU) Lahore by the university’s faculty and students to express grief and agony over the brutal murder of the varsity’s Associate Professor Dr Tanzeem Akbar Cheema.

The deceased’s sons and other family members also participated in the walk organised by the university’s Academic Staff Association (GCU-ASA) from the Postgraduate Block to the Main Gate.

The students held placards inscribed with slogans including “crown of botany has lost a gem”, “we have lost our encyclopedia” and “justice for Dr Tanzeem”.

Addressing the participants of the walk, GCU ASA President Prof Dr Hamid Mukhtar said that whatever was the reason behind the teacher’s murder could not justify the inhuman act. “In fact, no reason can ever justify a murder,” he added.

Prof Hamid demanded that the law and order situation in the city be improved to protect the precious lives of the teaching fraternity and other citizens.

It is worth mentioning here that Dr Cheema remained associated with the botany department of the GCU for over thirteen years.

The ASA said that whoever was involved in the murder should be arrested and brought to justice. They also requested the media to not publish non-conclusive reports, saying that these reports promote further agony among the students and teachers of the varsity.

Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah also participated in the walk and assured the sons of the slain professor that the university faculty and staff would pursue the murder case of their father on all possible forums. He also said that the varsity’s doors were always open to provide the family with any kinds of support and guidance. “Never feel that your father isn’t here,” said the vice chancellor while talking to the seven and twelve-year-old sons of the deceased.

He also told the deceased’s family that the chief minister had immediately taken notice of the murder and police high-ups were in constant contact with the university administration.

GCU Faculty of Electrical Engineering Dean Prof Dr Raiz Ahmed said that Dr Tanzeem was a committed and dedicated teacher, and everybody in the university was aggrieved and shocked over his brutal murder.

Earlier, the GCU ASA observed a black day and the university teachers wore black bands to protest against the murder of Dr Tanzeem.