KARACHI, Sept 6: The Karachi University Teachers Society has responded to the invitation of the KU VC Dr. Zafar Saeed Saify for talks on Saturday.

The VC has invited the president, the general secretary and other office-bearers of KUTS for a meeting on Saturday at his office.

A KU spokesman said on Friday that the meeting was being arranged on the directives of the Sindh High Court.

In a letter addressed to the VC, KUTS general secretary Sarwar Nasim said teachers have decided to assemble at the arts auditorium at 11am on Saturday to express solidarity with Prof. Dr. Pervaiz Akhtar Siddiqui and to protest against his forced retirement.

He said KUTS had also written to the VC that it would be appreciated if the arts auditorium is opened for the gathering as a goodwill gesture.

KUTS general secretary also asked the VC to arrange the meeting at 1pm with the office-bearers of KUTS, including President Dr. Fahimuddin, VP Dr. Riaz Ahmed, Secretary Sarwar Nasim, Dr. Aqeel Ahmed treasurer, Dr. Tasneem Saqib and Tayyaba Shaheen.

He demanded that the forced retirement of Prof. Dr. Pervaiz Siddiqui be withdrawn immediately in addition to withdrawal of all show-cause notices to students, staff and teachers.

Cases filed by the administration against teachers and employees be also withdrawn immediately whereas deputy registrar (general) and registrar be removed from their posts in addition to an end of vilification and victimisation campaign against the KU, he added.

SPLA: Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association (SPLA) on Friday termed Karachi University’s decision to send Prof Pervaiz Akhter Siddiqui on forced retirement an “illegal and tyrant act” and demanded immediate removal of the KU vice-chancellor.

In a statement, SPLA leaders Prof Sirajuddin Qazi, Prof Athar Hussain, Prof Syed Mushtaq Hussain and Prof Najmul Kalam said the repressive and tyrant approach indicated that the KU VC considered varsity his personal property.

They demanded immediate removal of Dr Saify as VC and warned that otherwise college teachers would be forced to join the KU faculty in their protest campaign.—PPI