KARACHI, Aug 8: Students and teachers of the Centre of Excellence in Marine Biology, University of Karachi, have condemned the “character assassination campaign” against some teachers of the centre and demanded of the vice chancellor to institute a high-level judicial inquiry into the matter.

Some students of the centre said on Thursday allegations and statements as regards teachers’ character was fabricated and could be a part of the “ongoing move on the part of the administration” to malign some teachers and students of the university and pave the way for their still rough treatment at the hands of law-enforcement agency personnel.” They also referred to a report about the KU registrar’s correspondence with police and termed it an attempt to hype up the situation on the campus.

Seven teachers condemned the alleged character assassination campaign against their colleagues.

About a dozen M Phil and PhD students of the centre in a letter to the vice chancellor of the university, who is also the chairman of the board of governors of the centre, said a few students were involved in negative propaganda against the centre, its teachers and students.

“We have been working on our research, in different laboratories, for the past 2-8 years. We have no problem in working with senior professors, whose capabilities and character cannot be questioned,” students said.

“If senior teachers are removed without thorough inquiry, it will communicate a wrong message,” they said.