KARACHI, Sept 23: Attendance at the University of Karachi on Monday remained thin as students did not turn up in adequate number in view of a call given by teachers’ body to boycott teaching activities.

Sources on the campus said that in the early hours a very limited number of classes were held with meagre attendance, but after a round of different departments by a group of teachers, classes were almost suspended. Only a couple of teachers held their routine exercise and conducted classes, added the source, adding that the situation remained almost peaceful.

Teachers, who have been protesting on the call of the Karachi University Teachers’ Society against the administration and the vice-chancellor, had on Saturday decided to observe a complete strike.

The teachers are of the view that observance of token strike by them had not been taken appropriately by the chancellor of the university.

A KU press release said teaching and research work in all the faculties remained as usual, except the faculty of arts where classes were partly disturbed in few departments. The departmental attendance was satisfactory, it claimed, adding that attendance in the evening classes remained as usual and the examinations of LLM, BPEd and MSc Home Economics were held as per schedules in a peaceful and calm atmosphere.

A KUTS press release said that protest was held at the university against the “anti-teacher, anti-student and anti-peace politics of the varsity administration”. At the call of the KUTS, teachers remained out of classrooms to register their resentments against the KU administration and indifferent attitude of the chancellor’s secretariat, it added.

While claiming that not a single class could be held in most of the department, the KUTS office-bearers mentioned that a few classes were held mainly by the cooperative and visiting faculty, who were not persuaded by the KUTS representatives for not taking the classes.

Academic Council: Prof Shamim Ahmed Khan Suri has been declared elected unopposed as member of Karachi University’s Academic Council from the constituency of principals, professional colleges.

A notification issued by the KU registrar said Prof Suri will hold the office for three years from the date of the first meeting of the Academic Council.—APP