LAHORE: The Punjab University Academic Staff Association (PUASA) has decided to besiege the Chief Minister Secretariat on The Mall if the Lahore Development Authority was not barred from acquiring land of their housing society for constructing a terminal for the orange line Metro Train.

A decision to the effect was unanimously made at a general body meeting of the PUASA on the New Campus on Tuesday.

Later, a large number of PU teachers staged a rally from the Al Razi Hall to New Campus bridge on the Lahore Canal.

Led by PUASA President Prof Dr Hassan Mobeen Aalam, Secretary Dr Mahboob Husain and other leaders, the protesters marched in a queue to allow smooth flow of traffic on the road while carrying banners and placard inscribed with their demand to find some other land for the construction of metro train terminal.

Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association President Naimatullah Laghari assured the protesters that teachers of all public sector universities would join the protest of the PU faculty if the LDA attempted to deprive PU teachers of their houses.

PUASA President Dr Aalam said it was strange that the LDA was planning to utilise PU`s developed residential area for the terminal while sparing the vacant land lying nearby but owned by some political and influential personalities.

Secretary Dr Mahboob Husain said a massive protest rally would be taken out from the Old Campus on The Mall on Thursday.