HYDERABAD, May 26: The family of Prof Bashir Channar, who was killed on Jan 2, has criticised restoration of admission of 15 students of the Sindh University who were rusticated for their alleged involvement in creating law and order situation on the campus.

If restoration was so necessary, why they had been rusticated, the family said, adding that Prof Channar would not have been murdered had there been no rustication.

“Those who had actually taken decision of rustication, today portray as if they have nothing do with that,” said Niaz Channar, son of Bashir Channar. He blames acting VC Sindh University Parveen Shah for using her influence over disciplinary committee to restore admission of 15 students. “She is under influence of the PML-F because prime accused of the case are associated with it,” alleged Niaz.

Prof Channar was director of students affairs in the university.

The disciplinary committee on Dec 4, 2012, proposed rustication of the students following reports of their alleged involvement in campus related disturbances, including burning of point buses and boycott of examinations etc. Then VC Dr Niaz Mughal had approved it.

Murder of Prof Channar led to an outcry from the teaching faculty for removal of the VC. He was ultimately sent on forced leave.

They were on the warpath against Mughal and Sindh University Teachers Association (SUTA) still demands appointment of permanent and in service VC.

The university administration had got Channar’s murder case registered with Jamshoro police. A judicial probe was conducted by Additional District Judge Jamshoro Mr Khalid Hussain Shahani.

According to Niaz Channar, the judicial probe report mainly accuses three students Bachal Narejo, Mehal Rajar and Hamz Ali Chandio of murder.

Quoting excerpts of the judicial finding, he said: “Bachal Narejo fired shots, Meehal Rajar was riding a motorcycle and Hamza Ali Chandio was the third member of the team.” He said the prime accused belonged to the PML-F.

The university administration and disciplinary committee members were under political influence. “SUTA was interested in having [Nazir] Mughal removed,” he said.

Former university’s faculty member and writer, Inam Sheikh, supports Channar’s viewpoint. “Proper procedure was not adopted to restore their admission,” he said. Institutions could not be run in this manner. The monitoring committee formed by civil society comprising people like Ibrhaim Joyo, Abrar Kazi, Jami Chandio, Taj Joyo and others had supported rustication of students, he added.

SUTA’s general secretary Arfana Mallah strongly disagrees with Niaz Channar. SUTA considered ADJ’s report incomplete and called for an inquiry by a high court judge to probe all aspects of the murder. Ms Mallah said late Channar’s son and a daughter had been given jobs in the university following SUTA’s efforts.

“We have asked the acting VC that restoration of students’ admissions should have an approval from the academic council to meet requirements,” she said. Acting VC had already proposed a commission headed by a high court judge to probe Channar’s murder, she added.

“Channar was ex-faculty member but with our efforts his family was paid Rs1 million, teachers donated one day’s salary and they are still living in the university’s residential accommodation,” she said.

Prof Abdullah Dayo defends the committee’s decision and denies accusations of Niaz Channar. He was convenor of the committee which rusticated students. “Everyone was on board as far as rustication’s decision was concerned but procedure laid down for students’ rustication was not adopted. Such decision was taken under some [peculiar] conditions prevailing at that time. But I believe students must have been issued show-cause notices,” he said.

Now, he said, admissions of students had been restored after meeting all due requirements. “Students had filed appeals, they were issued show-cause notices and heard,” he said. Some faculty members have even given certificate in support of appellants [students].

According to university’s registrar Abdul Ghaffar Shah, Channar’s family is always given access. Students’ admissions are restored after consideration of appeals filed by their parents.