SUKKUR: The Shah Abdul Latif University (Salu), Khairpur, witnessed complete chaos on Monday as students of most departments turned up to take their semester exams but were

turned away and those of the physics department had to take their paper in front of the closed gate of the varsity amid a controversy involving status of its vice chancellor.

A conglomerate of teachers’ and employees’ associations calling itself the ‘Joint Association Committee’ apparently closed the main gate after turning away all the students saying that no exams were going to be held today (Monday). While students of other departments left, those of physics department stayed on and Chairman of their department Farman Ali Mangi along with some teachers, conducted the exam. The students, were however, had to sit on ground under open sky in front of the varsity’s main gate amid extremely hot weather conditions and without any essential facility.

Leaders of the agitating committee told Dawn that there was no notification about restoration of the vice chancellor issued by the varsity administration and, therefore, they did not allow the semester paper to be conducted. The committee has been running a campaign for the removal of the VC for some time and the matter was pending adjudication in the Sindh High Court. The Salu administration had issued a notification for the holding of the exams for today after the SHC, Sukkur bench, reportedly issued an order for the restoration of the VC. The committee insists that a formal notification of VC’s restoration must have been issued first.

Only physics students took paper in front of main gate after all others forced out of campus

A complete chaos was witnessed when groups of teachers and varsity employees started forcing students out of the university premises as soon as they started arriving. They managed to push all the students out of the main gate and lock it from inside. The action was executed by the chief security officer with the help of subordinate security staff.

A video of physics students taking their paper under scorching heat went viral on the social media and drew a sharp reaction from netizens, who lashed out at the Salu administration and provincial authorities for the situation.

Ishrat Mirani, a teacher of the international relations department and a member of the university’s syndicate, was seen in the video condemning the agitating associations and their committee for disturbing academic atmosphere on the campus, attempting to devastate students’ carrier and committing contempt of court, “which has ordered restoration of the VC”. He was heard demanding a ban on all associations, at least for six months, to facilitate smooth holding of the semester examinations and provide relief to students.

Mr Mirani held the chief security officer, president of the employees’ association and Salu registrar for the chaos, lapse and trouble at the university today. The committee and its supporters kept guarding the main gate to prevent students from reentering the campus after being forced out, he deplored.

He also claimed that the registrar, without VC’s permission, issued a notification for summer vacations from today (June 3) although the vacations were scheduled to begin on June 8. He pointed out that the ongoing semester was not completed yet.

Mr Mirani said that students were also being harassed to force them to vacate their hostel rooms.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2024