Representational Photo. PHOTO. FILE
On Friday, the protest organised from the platform of SUEWA almost reached its fourth week. "Dr Burfat has been disregarding the varsity's codes. He will have to be held accountable," said SUTA President Dr Naek Muhammad Shaikh, who also heads the provincial chapter of Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association.
Speaking at SUEWA's protest in the varsity in Jamshoro district, Dr Shaikh blamed Dr Burfat for turning the varsity into his estate and for running a biased management based on his personal likes and dislikes. He also looked askance at the university's handling of encroachment on several acres of its land, pointing out that the neighbouring Mehran University of Engineering and Technology and Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences had gotten their lands vacated.
SUTA General Secretary Dr Arfana Mallah accused SU administration of taking punitive action against the protesting teachers and staff. She expressed distrust with Burfat's administration's reported overtures for negotiations with the protesters. "The VC is more adept at taking U-turns than Prime Minister Imran Khan."
According to her, the university is dealing with a financial crisis and banks have refused to approve loans. She argued that the incompetent management led by Burfat was unable to steer the institution out of the crisis rather they were plunging it in greater chaos.
SUOF President Syed Sajjad Hussain Shah said they will take out a long march from Jamshoro to Hyderabad to make public the growing resentment which has hitherto remained confined to the SU campus. He said problems existed in other public sector universities as well but the administrations there took a conciliatory approach towards the employees by addressing their problems.
"Neither the teachers nor the officers nor the staff are satisfied with the Burfat administration. Our joint protests testify to this fact," said SUEWA President Muhammad Ali Ghangro. He alleged that corruption under the Burfat administration during the last two and a half years has broken all previous records.
He decried ending of the son quota and introducing private contractors who hire employees for the varsity. He said though the tuition fee for students has been increased, no improvement has been brought in the state of facilities. Syed Ahsan Shah Rashdi of SUOF alleged that the VC bought a vehicle of over Rs5 million without obtaining prior approval from the syndicate.
The three associations have also been calling for the removal of Registrar Ameer Ali Abro and Finance Director Hakim Ali Mahesar. They charged the administration for its anti-employees policies, growing corruption, ad hoc decisions and illegal transfers and postings of staff, besides other issues.
SU dismisses protests
On its part, the administration denies that the ongoing staff protest has been affecting day to day work. The varsity's spokesperson denied that the staff, including those working in the VC's office, completely boycotted work on Wednesday. "The majority of SU's teachers, officers and staff understand the hidden agenda behind the protests and they have rejected it too."
He claimed that people from outside the varsity are brought to the protests to show a larger participation. The spokesperson said the VC was always eager to listen to the complaints and problems of employees but he could not accept unlawful demands or bow before the pressure of those serving personal interests.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2019.
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