LAHORE: The Punjab University Academic Staff Association (PUASA) on Sunday condemned dismissal of International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) department of mass communication`s chairman from service.

IIUI Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal, also president of academic staff association, was first removed from the post of chairmanship of the department.

Prof Iqbal was later dismissed over charges of organising a sit-in outside the university gate to protest removal of three teachers from service.

According to a notification, Prof Iqbal was dismissed from service on the allegation of launching a false propaganda against the IIUI administration through print, social and electronic mediato malign image of the university.

Prof Iqbal was called to attend hearing through a show-cause notice but he did not turn up to give replies to the allegations against him.

He rather approached the civil court to get a stay order against the notice but the court did not accept his request.

On the basis of the recommendation of the authorised officer in the case, the authority had imposed a major penalty of dismissal from service upon Prof Iqbal (BPS-21) in terms of section 4(1)(b)(iv) IIUI E&D Statutes 1987 with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, the PUASA held meeting over the issue and its president Dr Mumtaz Anwar demanded immediate restoration of Prof Iqbal and removal of IIUI president.

He said they would call for countrywide protest if Prof Iqbal was not restored.