HYDERABAD, Jan 25: A rally in favour of resuming classes at a university closed since the beginning of the month due to the murder of a professor, and another demanding resignation of the vice-chancellor were taken out on Wednesday.
A number of senior teachers, employees, civil society members and parents and guardians of students of the Sindh University appealed to protesting teachers to save the future of students by immediately resuming classes.
Classes were suspended on January 2, after the assassination of Prof Basheer Ahmed Channar, also Director Students Affairs. The peace rally was organized by the Sindh University Officers Welfare Association.
The procession was led by pro-vice chancellors Prof Dr Parveen Shah, Prof Dr Anwar Ali Shah, Prof Dr Imdad Ali Ismaili and President of the Association Muhammad Nawaz Narejo.
The rally started from the Model School Hyderabad to press club and largely attended by the officers, senior teachers, employees and students of the university, and also two sons of the murdered professor - Dawood Channar and Aziz Channar.
Carrying banners, participants appealed to teachers to resume teaching to avoid further loss of students.
Sindh is the land of peace and Sufi’s and always promoted brotherhood, and it was our collective duty to maintain the traditions of our forefathers who established this place of learning, they said.
“We are answerable to the nations for not delivering what our province demands for its development and betterment.
Teachers should immediately resume the teaching process,” they said.
They appealed to the authorities to order arrest of killers of Prof Bashir Ahmed Channar while appreciating the efforts of vice-chancellor in this regard.
However, activists of the Left Unity took out a procession from the old campus to the press club in support of the Sindh University Teachers Association (SUTA) calling for the removal of Vice-Chancellor Prof Nazir A. Mughal and establishment ofa judicial commission.
A good number of university teachers and leaders of the Non-Academic Staff Association participated in the rally. They carried placards and banners inscribed with slogans of “Go VC Go,” “Save the university” and “Education system based onclass system unacceptable.
Leaders of the Left Unity Bakhshal Thalho and Latif Inqalabi said that maladministration in universities was rampant, especially in the Sindh University.
They alleged that vice-chancellors were being appointed on political recommendation and gratification, instead of merit because of which they remain non-serious towards education sector.
Some four students and a professor lost their lives during the tenure of the incumbent vice-chancellor, besides financial mismanagement and maladministration were topping the list they said adding that neither educational transformation norresearch culture was developed.
Their demands included removal of vice-chancellor, appointment of a judicial commission, withdrawal of Rangers and police from the campus and revival of student unions.
SUTA leaders Azhar Ali Shah and Dr Arfana Mallah and employees’ leaders Ghulam Nabi Bhalai and Allah Wadhayo also spoke on the occasion.
The teachers and employees also staged a rally at the university campus and raised slogans against the VC.
NOTIFICATION: Registrar Sindh University on Wednesday notified regularisation of services of contractual employeescompleting one year satisfactory services as per the rules.
It further announced giving job priority to sons/daughters of deceased/retired employees according to qualification required for posts from BPS-2 to BPS-6. Upgradation orders of remaining employees will be issued soon under technical scheme.