HYDERABAD: The Sindh Agri­cul­ture University (SAU) management and officers association traded allegations of corruption and wrongdoings after a group of protesting officers led by their general secretary, Ghulam Hyder Joyo, started a hunger strike unto death on Tuesday demanding removal of Vice Chancellor Dr Mujeebuddin Sahrai and a corruption inquiry against him and several of his subordinates. Rejecting the allegations, the SAU management accused a few members of the association of blackmailing it and the VC after their demands for undue privileges, benefits and favour were turned down.

SAU officers’ association president Riasat Ali Kubar, Mr Joyo and some other office-bearers sitting outside the Hyderabad Press Club, also spoke at a press conference.

Mr Kubar alleged that rampant corruption over more than two years at the SAU, Tando Jam, had caused a huge loss to the institution and undermined its reputation. He held the VC and his team responsible for the situation, and claimed that they usurped much of the funds meant for development at the SAU and the Khairpur College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology.

He said that the association had long been urging the VC to control corruption but in vain. Instead, they alleged, the VC continued to patronised corrupt elements and ignored the association’s protests. According to him, massive corruption had been resorted to in spending over Rs230 million allocated for the SAU and the Khairpur college.

Mr Kubar said that several hundred trees at the university had been cut down for financial gains and the unique botanical garden spread over 12 acres which served the purpose of research was destroyed.

He also accused the VC of violating merit to extend favours on political grounds in recruitment, promotion and other matters. He demanded a thorough investigation against the VC and his team by the National Accountability Bureau and other institutions.

Rejecting all the allegations, SAU Registrar Hafeezullah Memon in a press statement observed that a group of fewer than 30 officers of the 180-strong association had resorted to starting the hunger strike without seeking an approval of its general body. He said the protesting officers had been pressuring the management for personal benefits. Particularly, he alleged, Mr Kubar was demanding BPS-21 for himself without meeting codal formalities and rules. He said the association president was blackmailing the management and SAU statutory bodies.

Describing Mr Kubar’s allegations as baseless, the registrar said they [the protesting officers] had not given anything in writing to the university management/authority or any other forum.

He accused the officers concerned of disturbing the peaceful environment and development works on the campus.

He urged the authorities concerned officials to adopt proper procedure [against such activities] otherwise the SAU would take action against them under its rules.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2016