The Killing of Swat University's Vice Chancellor Dr. Farooque Khan.
Islamabad, Oct 05: Because of the killing of Swat University's Vice Chancellor Dr. Farooque Khan,teachers have decided to commemorate World Teachers Day as 'Black Day,' which otherwise is celebrated as Salaam Teachers Day,
The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA)demanded of the government to take immediate steps for the security of academicians and has announced a countrywide strike and .
FAPUASA President Kalim Ullah lamented that the government had announced 50 per cent raise in salaries of employees of universities but nothing practical has been done so far. "The government had promised to release funding for raise in salaries just to end the series of protests. It is October 4 now, but universities haven't received even a single penny," he said.
Federal Government College Teachers Association (FGCTA) Press Secretary Muhammad Tahir, while talking to the media, said that Federal Minister for Education Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali assured them that the problems of teachers would be resolved on immediate basis but nothing practical has been done so far.
He said that the condition of teachers is the same from day one as no government addressed their issues. "In many cases, teachers waited for 25 years for promotion from one grade to the next," he said.
. "Many teachers are not getting salaries for many months after their reinstatement," he said.
National Assembly Speaker Dr. Fehmida Mirza, in her message on World Teachers' Day, has urged the nation to pledge for enhancing the respect and dignity of teachers in society as ordained by our religious, social and cultural values.
She said: "We should take all measures to restore dignity, honour and respect of teachers in society to promote education in real sense.
She said that teachers were instrumental in the nation-building because they give vision and direction to young people who are future of a nation. "Teachers serve as a guide to deliver people from darkness of ignorance, show them the light of knowledge and put nation on the path of development and progress," she said.
She said that teachers besides teaching also concentrate on promoting wisdom, integrity, character and tolerance among students so that they could become good citizens.
She said that a nation could only prosper if it gives due respect and honour to its teachers. She regretted that in the past teachers had been neglected in our society. "Teaching community is an important segment of society and all steps will be taken to resolve their problems," she assured while adding that teaching has been universally acclaimed as one of the noblest of professions.
APP adds: National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) strongly condemned the cowardly assassination of psychiatrist, religious scholar and Vice Chancellor of the Islamic University of Swat, Dr. Muhammad Farooq Khan.
The cold-blooded murder of Dr. Farooq has caused grief and anguish across the country. Dr. Farooq was a mild mannered person who unflinchingly supported the rights of women and religious minorities, and spoke out boldly against extremism and violence. His vision of a moderate Islam reflected the true spirit of the faith and represented the values that the vast majority in this country adheres to.
Dr. Farooq's murder is regrettably the latest in a series of target killings in the country of those who stand up against barbarity and ignorance. Such crimes against humanity continue to be perpetrated because criminals have been allowed to operate with impunity. Flawed legislation, such as the Qisas and Diyat Law, permit criminals to buy or threaten their way out of being punished for their crimes,
