HYDERABAD, June 30: Teachers boycotted semester examinations of Sindh University in Jamshoro on Saturday in protest against rejoining of Vice-Chancellor Dr Nazir Mughal who took over the charge on Friday.

Teachers and university employees took out a procession from the zero point which culminated at the Jamshoro railway crossing. They blocked it for around two hours, suspending flow of traffic on the Indus Highway.

The protesters were led by leader of Sindh University Teachers Association (SUTA) Prof Azhar Shah, president of Sindh University Employees Welfare Association (SUEWA) Ghulam Nabi Bahalai and general secretary Allah Wadhayo.

Mr Azhar severely criticised the return of Nazir Mughal and said that it was in sharp contrast to the commitment made by the chancellor that a new VC would be appointed.

He said the education minister of Sindh was also responsible for the rejoining of Mughal as VC.

Employees and teachers do not have trust in Mr Mughal because according to them, he does not have the capability to run administrative affairs of the university.

Ghulam Nabi Bahali supported SUTA’s demand for an in-service VC of the university and said it was decided in a meeting at the governor’s secretariat on May 26, 2011, that problems of employees would be resolved and minutes were also issued.

When the acting VC started resolving these issues like holding of selection board and meetings of the departmental promotion committee, Mr Mughal has rejoined.

He said he could not protect interest of the university and its employees. He termed his return as anti-university for which the governor and Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq were responsible.

Meanwhile, university spokesman claimed that semester examinations in the departments of bio-chemistry, mass communication, English and microbiology could not be held out of the 45 departments whereas in the rest of the departments, examinations were held.

Those who do not agree with SUTA’s policies cooperated with the administration and semester examinations were conducted.

Papers of regular semester examinations would end on Saturday while those of failure candidates would continue as per schedule.

Azhar Shah however rejected spokesman’s claim, saying that the university administration used strong-arm tactics and even examinations were held at gunpoint. “Research associates were harassed and forced to hold examinations,” he told Dawn.

Teachers who are part of pro-VC lobby facilitated the examinations.

“Doors were closed and teachers and students were forced to appear in the semester examinations,” he said.

The spokesman said that only office-bearers of the SUTA, its executive council members and some sympathisers boycotted the examinations.

Mr Mughal returned after a three months forced leave on Friday. He had to go on the leave in the wake of teachers’ protests who were demanding his removal after the murder of Prof Bashir Channar on Jan 2.

HUNGER STRIKE: Around 20 employees of Sindh University started a hunger strike under the aegis of “Save Sindh University Committee” outside the administration block against the boycott of academic activities by teachers.