KARACHI, July 17: Maintaining that atmosphere at the University of Karachi is tense and the vice-chancellor has failed to ensure justice in their case, teachers of the university on Wednesday urged the government to hold an enquiry into the administrative affairs of the institution.

Speaking at the general body meeting of the Karachi University Teachers’ Society (KUTS), the teachers expressed the view that under a conspiracy their character assassination was being carried out to damage academic activities.

They also saw violation of human rights on part of the KU administration and suggested that people outside the campus should also be apprised of the anti-teachers and anti-education developments within the campus.

The meeting was held in the open at the arts faculty lobby as the administration did not allow the teachers to hold the meeting in the arts auditorium on the ground that it did not come up to the criteria set by the administration recently.

The meeting, attended by a large number of teachers, was presided over by KUTS treasurer Prof Aqeel Ahmed.

The speakers, including male and female teachers, maintained that the teachers were involved in positive activities, while the administration was turning against them. “A maximum of research works is being carried out at the university, but the administration is accusing the teachers of indulging in corruption.”

They said teachers were not involved in any negative campaigning, but were working for further improving the academic standard.

A KUTS office-bearer said enquiry should be held against the administration which had started victimizing the employees and vilifying them in public.

It was further said that teachers had got the constitutional right to protest over the alleged violation of human rights and the administration should also tender an apology for using derogatory language against teachers in its report under the caption “Operation Clean Up”, which was sent to the principal secretary to the Sindh governor.

Another teacher said the vice-chancellor was under the pressure of some external elements, including a nominee of the governor to the syndicate. He said the syndicate member should not be allowed to visit the university frequently and to sit in the administration block as he had some ulterior motives.

A couple of teachers said there prevailed an environment of suppression and teachers were denied there due rights.

The general body approved a set of resolutions presented by KUTS secretary Sarwar Naseem.

It resolved that recent actions taken by the administration in dealing with inquiries against teachers were conducted carelessly, harassing teachers and without observing prescribed norms and procedure.

It demanded that over 40 employees, who were sacked following the downsizing policy of the university, should be reinstated. The general body also demanded an apology from the VC for using “derogatory and malicious” language in his July 6 letter to the governor.

It resolved that a constitutional petition be filed against the KU administration for producing fake and false documents before the Sindh High Court recently. It also resolved to adopt the resolutions of KUTS executive council meetings of July 3, which called for replacement of registrar, two deputy registrars, security advisers, besides bringing to an end the influence of a syndicate member in the matters of the university.