HYDERABAD, Feb 13: Liaquat Medical University Staff Welfare Association’s founder office-bearers have threatened to launch a protest movement if corruption and nepotism in the university was not stopped and problems of the employees were not resolved.

They warned that if anyone tried to resist their protest movement they will not hesitate in committing self-immolation to restore the supremacy of law in the university.

Addressing a news conference at the press club here on Wednesday, general secretary of the association Shabbir Ali Chohan, chairman Ghulam Mohammad Memon and president Nazar Hussain Qureshi said that new vice-chancellor Professor Noshad Ahmed Shaikh had taken effective steps to check rampant corruption in the university but the mafia was trying to create hurdles in his efforts by creating misunderstanding between him and employees.

Giving details they claimed that an amount of Rs12 million was approved for the purchase of electronic microscope but this machinery was purchased for Rs15.2 million without seeking approval for the additional amount.

They said within six months the salaries of employees to the tune of Rs700,000 were misappropriated and irregularities were committed in the appointment of the dean of quality enhancement.

They said that Sindh Governor and Chancellor of the University Dr Ishratul Ibad had taken some positive steps to improve the working of the universities but some officers at the governor’s house were trying to negate his efforts.

They demanded that the practice of appointing officers on contract basis should be abolished and additional charges given to them should be withdrawn.

They alleged that irregularities were committed in pre-entry test for 2007 session and an announcement was made to register an FIR against the responsible people but no such action had been taken.

They demanded that the services of employees should be upgraded through the departmental promotion committee, the employees should be paid cash for the purchase of uniform on the pattern of Sindh University, the minimum pay of an employee should be fixed at Rs4,600 as per the announcement by the federal government.

They further demanded that unauthorised occupants in the employees residential colony should be ejected and the university act and rules should be implemented in letter and spirit.