HYDERABAD, Feb 8: The tug of war between the vice-chancellor and teachers of Sindh University took a new twist on Tuesday night when a syndicate meeting at the Governor House in Karachi decided to terminate the services of two teachers’ leaders and suspend six others.

Although the university authorities have not yet issued any notification, sources told Dawn that the syndicate meeting had decided to terminate the services of Sindh University Teachers Association president Dr Azhar Ali Shah and general secretary Dr Irfana Mallah and to take disciplinary action against Badar Soomro, Ms Salma Laghari (Amar Sindhu), Dr Rabia Memon, Ishaque Samejo, Dr Ayaz Keerio and Asghar Burfat.

The Sindh chapter of the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association, at a meeting at a hotel on Wednesday, described the decision as “unlawful”.

The provincial president of the association, Prof Naimatullah Leghari, presided over the meeting.

Mr Leghari said at the press club that the federation believed the presence of Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and Sindh Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq at the syndicate meeting violated the university act and statutes.

He called for withdrawal of the termination and suspension orders, appealing to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice over the issue.

He reiterated the demands made by Sindh University teachers – including the removal of Vice Chancellor Dr Nazir Mughal -- and expressed solidarity with the SUTA.

He said the meeting called upon teachers to boycott classes at public sector universities of Sindh from Feb 9 to 13.

If the authorities failed to address the grievances of SUTA by then, he added, the federation’s Sindh chapter would meet on Feb 13 to thrash out a new line of action.

He appealed to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to take note of the situation at the Sindh University.Dr Shah said in a communiqué addressed to all concerned that the syndicate was incomplete as elections for some of its members were scheduled by the end of this month.