A private college in Sialkot has fired a teacher, who had been teaching there for over 11 years, after students objected to his faith.
Waseem Afzal, a teacher of Pakistan Studies at the college, later confirmed that students refused to study from the accused teacher. It prompted the teacher to excused himself from instructing further classes at the college. The college administration accepted his request.
The incident occurred at the Sambrial campus of the Superior College in Sialkot District on September 10. Students from various classes and groups gathered at the college and interrupted the teacher's lecture, chanting slogans against him and his faith.
The situation continued to escalate after the class ended. As the teacher exited the classroom after delivering his lecture, some students chased him. Seeking safety, he fled to another part of the campus and reported the incident to the college administration.
Despite being informed, the college administration took no action to control the situation, with students continuing to chant slogans against the teacher.
The teacher managed to flee the college and sought refuge with a friend.
Later that day, the teacher received a call from the college administration informing him that students were protesting at both the boy's and girls' campuses, demanding his immediate dismissal.
The protesters threatened to expand their protests beyond the college walls unless their demands were met. Hence, the college informed the teacher that his employment had been terminated.
It is pertinent to mention here that the teacher has been targetted for this faith in the past as well, having received threats on occasion. Last month, some local religious clerics urged the college to fire the teacher.
Speaking to Naya Daur's Muneer Bajwa, Afzal explained that students at the boys and girls campus had refused to attend classes taught by the teacher in question. Witnessing this situation, Afzal said the impacted teacher had informed the college that he could not continue teaching there. The college administration subsequently accepted the teacher's request.
He clarified that students on the campus did not stage a protest.
Afzal said that the college administration was aware of the teacher's faith when they hired him. However, students only learnt of the teacher's faith when a student from his neighbourhood joined the college.
Sentiments against the teacher gained steam among the students after the National Finality Of Prophethood (PBUH) Day was celebrated earlier in the month. The students then started demanding the teacher's removal from the college.
Human rights organisations have condemned the dismissal of the teacher for his faith and his harassment as a violation of the teacher's constitutional rights and laws governing employment.
According to Article 25(1) of the Constitution of Pakistan, all citizens are equal before the law. Similarly, Article 27(1) of the Constitution prohibits discrimination in employment based on religion, race, or ethnicity. However, despite these protections, religious intolerance against the Ahmadiyya community continues to grow in Pakistan.
Activists have urged the government to take immediate steps to protect religious minorities and ensure that all citizens, regardless of their faith, are treated equally under the law.