HYDERABAD, Sept 3: Around 30 educationists and leaders of the civil society drew the attention of Sindh governor/chancellor of universities and the Sindh Agriculture University Syndicate towards cessation of academic and research activities at the university and demanded removal of its vice-chancellor Dr Basheer Ahmed Shaikh. This was expressed through a joint statement issued here on Wednesday.
“Teachers, employees and students have been expressing their concern since long over the failure of Dr Shaikh in providing healthy atmosphere at the campus”, they said adding: “There have been allegations of corruption, misuse of power and nepotism against the VC and his three sons - who too are employees here and wield immense financial and administrative influence.”
The inducted friends and relatives had received undue benefits during the tenure of Dr Shaikh they alleged and held him responsible for victimizing employees and using force to crush their peaceful struggle.
They appealed to the Sindh governor to remove Dr Shaikh from the post of vice-chancellor for his failure to deliver.
They said the civil society would not accept political appointment demanding merit-based from among the sitting or former professors of the university.
They demanded immediate release of salaries and withdrawal of false cases against the employees. They also called for conducting an inquiry against alleged financial and administrative misdeeds of the vice-chancellor, his sons and close associates.
The signatories to the statement included, Prof Badar Soomro, Prof Liaquat Aziz, Prof Yaqoob Chandio, Prof Aijaz Qureshi, Prof Taj Joyo and many others.
PPP MNA: The PPP MNA, Syed Ameer Ali Shah Jamote criticised police excess against university employees claiming that it was against the prestige of a VC to victimize its employees.
He said that he had advised the vice-chancellor to quit but instead he called the police to crush the ongoing struggle of employees. He again advised the VC to relinquish the charge.
It was the 61st day when academic and research activities in the university remained suspended as employees continued their strike.
Leaders of the Employees’ Action Committee, Hussain Bux Veesar, Syed Abdul Majeed Shah Rashidi and Karam Ali Punhoon vowed to continue the struggle till the removal of the vice-chancellor.
They announced that the employees of Mehran and Liaquat university would stage a protest march from Jamshoro to Hyderabad Press Club on Monday to express solidarity with the employees of the SAU.
AT: Activists of Awami Tehrik and Sindhiani Tehrik staged a protest rally from Hyder Chowk to the press club here on Wednesday to protest against “corrupt and anti-worker” vice-chancellor of the SAU.
Vishnu Mal, Ms Nazeer Qureshi and others demanded removal of Dr Shaikh and a judicial inquiry against him.
Regarding artificial shortage of fertilizer in Sindh, they said that it was aimed at destroying the agriculture sector of Sindh and compelling farming community to sell their lands to multinational companies.
They demanded a judicial inquiry into fertilizer shortage and its black-marketing and compensation to growers and peasants for their losses.
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