KARACHI, Feb 16: A dispute between teachers and the administration of the University of Karachi caused the adjournment of the varsity syndicate meeting on Saturday.

Sources in the campus said that following the issuance of a suspension order to a teacher of the Shaikh Zayed Islamic Centre, University of Karachi, last week the elected body of teachers at the university had communicated to the vice- chancellor that if the status of the teacher in question was not restored and action not delayed till the formation of an impartial committee and finalisation of the report by it, the members of the syndicate from the teachers constituency would not be able to attend the meeting on February 16.

A number of members, other than KU teachers, had come to attend the meeting, but they had to wait for about 2 and half hours to see any outcome of the negotiation between the vice- chancellor and the teachers’ representatives before the commencement of the syndicate meeting.

Last week, a SZIC teacher was suspended on the recommendation of a committee which had been tasked to look into a complaint of a girl student of the centre.

It was learnt that a nominee of the Sindh governor to the syndicate of the varsity had also to intervene in order to get the dispute resolved on Saturday.

After hectic efforts by the related quarters and and a clarification by the teacher in question, the vice-chancellor, who is also the chairman of the Board of Governors of the SZI centre, finally agreed to withdraw the suspension order.

It was learnt that the SZIC teacher had mentioned in his letter to authorities that the fuss was created due to some misunderstanding and there was no truth in the claim that he had annoyed the student. The teacher also pointed out that he would like to forgive the student and other teachers involved in the issue.

By the time the administration anf teachers gained a sense of confidence, it was too late to conduct the syndicate meeting for any purpose, therefore, after a recitation from the Quran, the meeting was postponed.

The agenda of the meeting included items pertaining to appointments and promotion of teachers at the university, takeover of the Federal Govt Urdu College by the university and withdrawal of the honorary doctorate degree of former chief of naval staff, Mansur-ul Haq.

In addition to requests from teachers, the chancellor has also asked the university to withdraw the degree issued to the ex- naval chief in view of his involvement in kickbacks related to defence purchase deals.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the University told Dawn that in the light of the order of the chairman of the Board of Governors of the SZIC, the order of the suspension of Ahmed Bari, a teacher, had been withdrawn.