KARACHI, Sept 16: All irregular postings, appointments, demotions or removals made in violation of rules in University of Karachi would be investigated and actions taken in the interest of an improved educational atmosphere.

The Sindh Governor, Mohammadmian Soomro, who is chancellor of the university, gave this assurance to a delegation of the teachers of the university.

The Karachi University Teachers Society delegation called on the governor on Monday on an invitation by the chancellor and apprised him of the “injustices and biased actions taken by the university administration.

They expressed resentment over the state of affairs on the university and demanded action against the quarters responsible for causing financial and administrative irregularities.

The governor listened to the demands and proposals of teachers and assured to give them of due consideration.

He said he would not allow any injustice to any quarter at any cost.

The representatives of teachers, among other things, apprised the chancellor about the reasons which compelled them to demand the removal of the vice chancellor.

It was maintained by them that it was the “maladministration and incompetence of the VC” that an ugly incident, including the beating of students and teachers by the rangers, took place on Sept 7.

A Governor’s House press release said the government was trying to strengthen institutions in every sector, and was giving equal importance to students, teachers and administration at the universities.

The delegation was informed that the syndicate of the university had already taken decision on the controversial registrar, deputy registrars, while directives have also been issued to review all decisions taken since July 1.

The governor regretted the suspension of academic activities and said 15,000 students were being deprived of education. “It is indeed painful that teachers, too have started agitation, instead of involving themselves in the character-building of students, he said, adding he was hopeful that teachers would refrain from strikes and save the precious time of students.

Meanwhile, despite some recent administrative reshuffles and meetings of their representatives with the chancellor of the university, the protesting teachers vowed to continue their campaign against the vice chancellor.

On Monday, university opened after one week but there were no classes after 10.30 am as teachers and students resorted to a boycott of classes.

The teachers assembled at the Arts Lobby of the university and held a general body meeting, expressing dissatisfaction over the administrative measures taken during the last two or three days.

In yet another development, the registrar of the University of Karachi on Monday tendered his resignation.

After returning from Governor’s House, the teachers’ representatives, including Dr Riaz Ahmad, the vice president, Sarwar Nasim, the secretary, Dr Abdul Qadeer, Dr Sohail Barkati and Dr Rafiq Alam also spoke to a general body meeting of KUTS and apprised them about their meeting with the governor.

The body resolved that the main demand of the KUTS — the removal of vice chancellor — still remained to be fulfilled.

Some of the speakers said the administration was continuing with its anti-teacher policies, but as a goodwill gesture, the KUTS general body had decided to resume classes from Tuesday.

“A token boycott of classes will continue and teachers will abstain from taking classes each day from 12 noon till Saturday (Sept 21)”, said a KUTS press release.

The KUTS resolved that non-cooperation with the present administration would continue and members would boycott the functions, meetings or proceedings where Prof Zafar Saied Saify, the vice chancellor of the university, would be present.

Through a signed statement, about 103 teachers of the university, condemned the Sept 7 incident on the campus and observed that such incidents were not in the interest of teachers and students of the university as it led only to humiliation, shame and disaster.

The signatories urged the students, teachers and administration to resolve their problems through negotiations, restore the sanctity of the university and ensure fully fledged academic activities there.

Talking to Dawn, the Vice Chancellor, Dr Zafar Saied Saify, said the registrar of the university, Prof Syed Aqil Burney, had tendered his resignation on Monday, which had been accepted and deputy registrar (academic) Naseer Uddin had been asked to look after the office of the registrar as an additional responsibility. He said the new registrar would be posted soon.

He further said that the deputy registrars Qadeer Mohammad Ali and Syed Khalid have also been transferred from their posts in line with the discussions held in the varsity syndicate meeting on Sept 14.

He maintained that academic life was returning to normalcy and most of the classes were held as per schedule in the morning and evening shifts.

He said he was ready to talk to teachers, non-teaching staff and students, for which a separate time had already been allocated after termination of teaching activities every day and as such quarters concerned could come to me and talk on their demands as well.

However, he mentioned that he would not succumb to any pressure from any quarter on the campus as those were not his appointing authority.

“When I am delivering the goods honestly, I do not need to be afraid of teachers or any other quarters”, he said, adding “sanity would finally prevail”.

A university press release said that on Sept 16, after partial and temporary suspension for a few days, the teaching and research work resumed at all the faculties of the university as usual, except for the time when teaching and non-teaching staff held their general body meetings.

The departmental attendance remained as below:

Faculty of Pharmacy — 75 per cent, Faculty of Science — 70 per cent, Faculty of Arts — 65 per cent, Faculty of Islamic Studies — 70 per cent and evening classes — 99 per cent, while examination of LAM, Home Economics were held as per schedule.

The general body meeting the Karachi University Teachers Society, led by Jalees Ahmad Qazi and Mohammad Arif, demanded a judicial probe against Prof Aqil Burney, Khalid Jamai and Qadeer Muhammad Ali, who were allegedly taking illegal actions and causing unnecessary harassment and unrest among the non-teaching, teaching staff and students.

A fact-finding committee of University of Karachi, comprising Dr. Abdul Rashid Dean, Faculty of 1st Studies as its convener, and Prof. Dr. M. Abuzar Wajdi, Dean Faculty of Arts and Prof. Dr. Syed Ayub Ali, Chairman Dept. of Pharmaceutics as members will meet on Sept. 17 and record the statements of effectees and concerned persons, adds PPI.

Earlier, the committee had adjourned its scheduled meeting on Saturday (Sept. 14) as nobody appeared before it as the varsity remained closed on the said date.