FAPUASA observes Black Day in solidarity with SAU faculty

Agri-varsity VC faces ire of faculty, staff over delayed payments, increments, and appointments

HYDERABAD:

The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) observed black day on Friday in protest against the Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Fateh Marri. According to a statement issued by President FAPUASA Sindh Chapter Dr Fahad Nazir Khoso, the day was marked to express solidarity with the faculty of SAU.

He said they resorted to protest because the VC has been evading addressing legitimate demands of SAU Teachers Association (SAUTA). "... and for his disregard for the welfare and rights of the university's faculty members." He blamed the VC for being non-cooperative and for aggravating tensions between his administration and the faculty.

The SAUTA has been demanding immediate convening of the selection board; advertising vacancies for appointment of the faculty; paying differentials owed to the faculty members; and settling the remuneration bills pending since 2018. They also want payment of telephone allowances for the last 12 months; payment of leave encashment for the past five years; regularisation of contractual teachers and reinforcement of the campus' infrastructure.

Meanwhile, SAU's spokesman told The Express Tribune that a delegation of the teachers met the VC on Friday. He added that the VC assured them that the selection board's meeting will be called next month while the payments of allowances will be made during the ongoing month.

Dr Abdul Wahid Baloch, who was part of the delegation, told that the VC will release remuneration and telephone allowances in the ongoing month.

According to him, the VC maintained that the selection board's meeting was delayed because of a ban on the appointments.

VC SALU

Separately, the joint action committee of Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, has strongly opposed the resumption of charge of SALU vice chancellor by Prof Dr Khalil Ahmed Ibupoto who was sent on a month long leave by the caretaker government. Ibupoto on Friday submitted duty resumption report, stating that his 30-day leave period ended on March 14.

In a statement, the committee's Chairman Prof Dr Akhtiar Ghumro asked the Sindh government to take notice and stop the VC from assuming his office. He maintained that a government employee who is sent on the forced leave can only resume work once they are cleared of the allegation after a thorough investigation. According to him, such an investigation has not been done in the case of Ibupoto.

He maintained that the teachers, officers, employees, students and parents will not accept the reinstatement of the incumbent VC because his presence allegedly undermined trust and credibility of the institution. Ghumro had earlier alleged that the leaked video was likely to discourage female students from completing their higher education at SALU.

Ibupoto in January shared a video on his social media account and claimed that he was being blackmailed by some subordinate officials for some months. He said the leaked video framing him with certain allegations was fake and edited.