SARGODHA, Nov 10: University of Sargodha’s passing out law students refused to receive their degrees from Governor Salmaan Taseer in protest against his recent remarks against lawyers seeking restoration of the deposed judges.

The governor, who is also chancellor of the varsity, was the chief guest at its first convocation held here on Monday.

The law students boycotted the convocation proceedings, while a group of lawyers staged a sit-in in front of the varsity’s main gate to express solidarity with them.

The lawyers chanted slogans against the governor who, according to them, used derogatory language against the legal fraternity. They also marched from the district bar to university campus carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans against the governor and President Asif Ali Zardari.

Meanwhile, addressing the convocation, the governor said politics should be kept out of educational institutions.

He said he was pleased to learn about the academic culture and environment prevailing in the varsity.

He endorsed the announcement by Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Akram Chaudhry regarding establishment of a “Benazir Butho Seat” in the Department of International Relations and Political Science.

The governor assured the vice-chancellor of provision of maximum financial assistance to the university with the help of state minister for interior Mr Tasneem Qureshi.

He said the federal government was determined to develop an environment conducive to growth of higher education in the country.

Earlier, the vice-chancellor in his inaugural speech on the occasion said that university administration had always tried to keep the institution politics-free with the cooperation of local representatives of political parties.

He said due to lack of financial assistance from the federal government and Higher Education Commission, the varsity had to stop its various development projects.

The VC said the university was also going to start some new academic programmes, along with establishment of a 500-bed teaching hospital for Sargodha Medical College.

He said it would also set up an engineering college and a science park near the Sial Interchange on the motorway to encourage young scholars and scientists.

The vice-chancellor and governor distributed medals, cash prizes and certificates among position holders in various disciplines who passed their examination in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

The governor also conferred degrees on PhD and M.Phil scholars and students of MA, MSc and MBA. State minister Tasneem Qureshi and other notables from various walks of life attended the convocation along with parents of students.

Later, addressing the PPP activists at the residence of divisional coordinator Malik Azizul Haq, the governor said all the government employees who had been victimised because of their political affiliations would get their jobs back.

He advised the workers to forge unity among their ranks and asked the local leaders to help them develop cohesion.