NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: Office-bearers and members of an organisation working for promotion of education in this district have been observing a hunger strike and holding protest demonstrations for the last three days against moves to stop Sindh University (SU) from establishing its campus in Naushahro Feroze.

Speaking to the media at the protest camp, pitched outside the local press club, on Monday, Mohammad Ali Shah Educational and Welfare Society joint secretary Faqir Mohammad Memon, Dr Abdul Qadeer and others said that they along with several hundred people of the town had put in great efforts to get the SU campus established for the cause of education. They said that SU Vice Chancellor Dr Nazeer Ahmed Mughal had approved the plan after which an advertisement to this effect was published. The said that an admission schedule was also announced and a number of candidates had filed their admission forms. However, they regretted, the employees union of the Shah Abdul Latif University (Salu) raised objection over the establishment of the SU campus on the plea that the town fell within the jurisdiction of Salu where it had established a law college.

The protesters claimed that no proper education was being imparted at the college which had only three local lawyers at its disposal. They said the college, which did not even have adequate space and other essential facilities, had nothing to do with the academic disciplines planned to be offered by the SU campus.

Dr Abdul Qadeer argued that establishment of SU campus in the town would in no way affect welfare of Salu employees.

Mr Memon said that they had approached the chief minister and other competent authorities with plea to intervene and restrain the Salu employees’ association from putting hurdles in the execution of the SU campus plan.

They said that the building housing a high school had already been offered to the SU to establish its campus. In reply to a question, they said they did not have any objection if Salu also established is campus in the town.