HYDERABAD: The Sindh University (SU) witnessed another day of turmoil and disturbance as the faculty observed a black day on Thursday.

This was stated by the Sindh University Teachers Association (Suta) president Dr Arfana Mallah, who is also the provincial chapter president of the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (Fapuasa). Teachers body of the Shah Abdul Latif University (Salu) also held a meeting to express solidarity with their SU counterparts.

SU teachers, according to her, protested in front of the main gate of the arts faculty building against direct appointment of a pro-vice chancellor at the main campus. Suta had given a call for strike against interference of the chief minister’s secretariat and Governor’s House in the SU affairs.

Suta also held its executive council meeting, chaired by Dr Mallah, which discussed different options to challenge the Sindh Universities Amendment Act 2013. The meeting endorsed a Fapuasa decision to challenge the law in the Supreme Court and observe a province-wide strike on April 18.

It resolved that the faculty would continue struggle for the restoration of the autonomy of the university.

Suta would observe a black day on April 15 and take out a protest rally from the arts faculty to zero point at 10:30am. Academic activities would continue as per routine.

The meeting condemned misuse of Fapuasa platform by former Suta president Ayaz Keerio and misguiding the authorities besides sabotaging unity of the teachers community.

The meeting noted that he was misusing Fapuasa’s name for support of his group, which was condemnable because everyone knew that he was no longer its president. Misuse of the association name by him was not only unethical, but also against the constitution of Fapuasa, it added.

The Sindh University registrar, when contacted for his comment, confirmed that academic activities at the university remained suspended on Thursday. He acknowledged that teachers intended to hold a protest on coming Monday.

KHAIRPUR: The Shah Abdul Latif University Tea­chers’ Association on Thurs­day also held a meeting which was presided over by its president Meenhon Khan Leghari.

Expressing solidarity with SU teachers, its office-bearers resolved to observe a black day on April 18 as per the Fapuasa decision.

It was decided that the teachers would wear black armbands in order to record their protest and would boycott the classes. They also announced running a joint struggle from the Fapuasa platform in protest against government interference, says a press release sent on Thursday.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2016