KARACHI: The retired faculty and staff of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST) gathered outside the Karachi Press Club to protest against unpaid pensions and post-retirement dues.

The protesters said that for the past five months, they had not received the pension amount, which had left them struggling with a number of issues. Out of the total 80, five retirees had passed away and their families were in financialdistress, they added.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Tauseef Ahmed Khan, convener of the Retired Teachers and Employees Committee, said that FUUAST Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zabta Khan Shinwari had admitted before the Federal Ombudsman that the university holds over Rsibillion in funds an amount grown from Rs600 million through investments but despite that the retirees remained unpaid, and no plan had been proposed to clear their dues.

Dr Khan condemned the VC for his lack of action and failure to fulfill his commitments andaccused him of contempt of court. He said that if pensions remained unpaid and no resolution plan was implemented, the retirees will begin a hunger strike outside the VC office next month.

Roshan Ali Soomro, General Secretary of the Teachers` Association of the university`s Abdul Haq campus, said that current faculty members had also not received salaries for the last two months, while house rent allowances had also been pending for nine months. The situation had worsened as medical and other essential facilities at the university had, too, cometo a standstill, he claimed.

Mr Soomro demanded an immediate bailout package to resolve the university`s financial crisis. He emphasised the urgent need to pay pensions and dues to the retirees, warning that divisions within the university were leading to administrative chaos.

Expressing solidarity with the retirees, he pledged to join the hunger strike if their demands were not met.

The protesters also applied to the authorities to take action and ensure that the retired faculty and staff, who dedicated their lives to the institution, are not left alone.