HYDERABAD, March 2 Employees of the Sindh University blocked the Indus Highway for three hours after observing pen-down strike, putting locks on the classes and holding a rally at the campus on Monday in protest against attack on security guards of vice chancellor house by a group of students four days ago.

They went for the protest after failure of talks with the university administration. The employees had demanded rustication of the students involved in the attack.

No employees reported for duty at the administration block or teaching departments while a large number of Liaquat, Mehran and agriculture universities' employees joined the protest to express solidarity with the Sindh University employees.

Some students belonging to SPSF-SB and SNSF also expressed solidarity with the employees. The point buses of the university also did not ply.

The employees' leaders announced that the protest would continue till the rustication of assailants.

Reports said that the university administration held an urgent meeting to discuss the prevailing situation.

Registrar Mohammad Saleh Rajar said that lock-out of classes was not the solution to existing problem and urged the students and employees to exercise restraint. No action could be taken in haste as the report from inquiry committee was being awaited, he said.

Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellor Mazharul Haq Siddiqui and PPP MPA Dr Sikandar Ali Shoro inquired after the health of injured security guards Anwar Ali Nohani, Abdul Hussain Nohani and Mohammad Ali Bhalai at the Liaquat University Hospital and assured them of justice.

Reports said that People's Students Federation held a meeting at the international boys' hostel under the chairmanship of Mir Abdul Razzaq Turab, which decided to bring out a peace rally.

The central president of the federation, Suleman Dasti, has formed a committee to inquire into the employees allegations.