Teachers announce protests over Gwadar University officials’ abduction

QUETTA: Teachers’ representatives from universities across Balochistan have announced a province-wide protest campaign over the non-recovery of senior officials of the University of Gwadar who were abducted five days ago while travelling to Quetta.

Leaders of the Academic Staff Association of the University of Balochistan and the Balochistan chapter of the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association said on Monday that a black day would be observed on Tuesday, followed by protest rallies at 11am on Wednesday in universities across the province.

According to the joint statement, University of Gwadar Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Abdul Razzaq Sabir, Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr Syed Manzoor Ahmed, lecturer Dr Irshad Ahmed and their staff members were kidnapped from the highway in Mastung district while they were on their way to Quetta.

Teachers express concern

The two associations said the abducted officials had still not been recovered despite the passage of five days, adding that the situation had caused deep concern among teachers and students in universities across Balochistan.

Faculty members at all universities in the province have been asked to take part in the black day and the protest rallies along with students and employees under the platforms of their respective academic staff associations.

The associations called on the government to ensure the immediate recovery of the vice chancellor, pro-vice chancellor, lecturer and their colleagues.

Security concerns raised

In their statement, the teachers’ bodies said members of the academic community had repeatedly come under attack in the past, with several faculty members killed and others forcibly disappeared.

They said Prof Dilawar Khan of the Khuzdar campus of the University of Balochistan was recently martyred, while Prof Ghamkhwar Hayat was also martyred in Nushki a few days ago.

The associations said these incidents had created a serious sense of insecurity among teaching and other university staff across Balochistan and were having a damaging effect on the province’s education system.

They urged the government to provide security to teachers, students and the wider public, improve the law and order situation, and secure the immediate recovery of all abducted officials.

The announcement marks a coordinated response by university teachers in Balochistan as concern grows over the safety of academic staff in the province and the continued disappearance of the University of Gwadar officials.