HYDERABAD, Sept 10: The leaders of public opinion, nationalist and religious parties, writers and intellectuals have called for removal of Sindh Agriculture University Vice-Chancellor Dr Basheer Ahmed Shaikh and an inquiry into his alleged corruption.

They also demanded release of two-month salaries of the university employees and withdrawal of criminal cases against them.

They were addressing a rally of employees of the SAU outside the press club here on Wednesday.

Hundreds of university employees went on a march from the university campus in Tandojam to the Hyderabad Press Club braving scorching heat. The leaders and employees of Sindh, Mehran and Liaquat universities also joined the rally to express solidarity with the SAU employees.

Raising slogans against Dr Shaikh, activists of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, Awami Tehrik, Sindh National Front, Sunni Tehrik and other parties also participated in the rally.

Those who spoke on the occasion included noted scholar Mohammad Ibrahim Joyo, JSQM chairman Basheer Khan Qureshi, Professor Taj Joyo, Professor Ameer Ali Qadri, SNF leader Ayoub Shar, Sunni Tehrik leader Khalid Qadri, Ms Nazeer Qureshi and others.

They said that Dr Shaikh was the enemy of education and if he was not removed within 24 hours, the writers and intellectuals of Sindh would stage hunger strike outside the Hyderabad Press Club.