KHAIRPUR: The Shah Abdul Latif University Teachers’ Association (SALUTA) on Wednesday held a demonstration against an indefinite delay in payments of leave encashment to the teachers of the university. Reportedly, SALUTA representatives including Dr Amir Ali Chandio, Prof Ghulam Ali Malah, Ahmed Ali Memon and others protested in front of vice-chancellor’s secretariat and expressed profound concerns over mismanagement, administrative corruption and irregularities in the university. They demanded eradication of corruption while strongly condemning vindictive attitude of administration towards teaching faculty. Meanwhile, Dr Chandio appealed to the federal and provincial governments to increase grants of the university. He further lamented over financial crises and urged authorities to conduct an audit in departments of examination, admission and finance for the last six years as number of candidates appeared in examinations does not match amount deposited in the university’s account. He appealed to concerned authorities to ensure an immediate halt to discriminate, pressurise and victimise faculty members. Prof Mallah also criticised administration over violation of merit in allotment of residential bungalows as senior professors including Dr Chandio and Dr Rahim Bux Soomro were neglected, and said that they required allotment committee to be reconstituted. He further demanded release of leave encashment to the faculty members who were appointed in 2008 and have completed 10 years of their services. Moreover, SALUTA secretary Memon denounced administration over a delay in advertisement of various teaching posts of many departments, despite of the fact that faculty members were qualifying for promotion. SALUTA vice president Abdul Hussain demanded an issuance of seniority list of professors and appointment of new registrar on the priority basis. He said that maintenance allowance was not being released to faculty members who were pursuing higher studies in MPhil and PhD. He lashed out at the administration over non-payment of medical and other bills of faculty members and demanded issuance of cheques to them without any discrimination. Besides, a large number of teachers also participated in the demonstration while holding banners and chanting slogans “Stop financial and administrative corruption and save the university”. “Almas” research journal tops HEC ranking in X category of Arts and Humanities The research journal “Almas”, published by the Urdu’s department of the Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU) in Khairpur, is the only “X” category research journal in the field of Arts and Humanities in Pakistan, according to a press release issued by the university on Wednesday. According to the official website of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), out of the total 42 HEC recognised journals in Arts and Humanities, “Almas” of the SALU tops the ranking in “X” category. “Almas” is a regular research journal of Urdu, published by the department of Urdu under the chairmanship of Prof Dr Yousuf Khushk. For achieving such a remarkable milestone, SALU Vice-Chancellor (VC) Dr Parveen Shah facilitated the department of Urdu and the entire team of “Almas”. SALU initiates tree plantation drive in Khairpur The Shah Abdul Latif University’s (SALU) department of Urdu on Wednesday participated in the national cause of countrywide tree plantation drive by planting saplings in gardens adjacent to its classrooms in Khairpur. Reportedly, the campaign was led by SALU Pro Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Yousuf Khushk and the department’s chairperson Prof Dr Soofia Khushk. Dr Khushk said that planting trees was our national responsibility to counter environmental challenges including pollution and global warming. A large number of students planted saplings and vowed to protect them. Jatoi community protests against police for ‘protecting’ land grabber in Sukkur Scores of members of Jatoi community on Wednesday organised a demonstration in front of the Sukkur press club against police officers for allegedly protecting a notorious land grabber and his accomplices. Reportedly, protesters including Dilmrad Jatoi, Edan Jatoi, Yasin jatoi and others said that a land grabber Rao Shakir along with his accomplices including Mehar Jatoi, Panah Lalabo, Ghaffar Rajpute, Essa Malik, Ayoob Seelro and others had occupied property of a poor man with the help of revenue officials and the Airport police. They alleged that the suspects had attacked their house in which one man was killed and six people were injured. Furthermore, they accused police officers of not cooperating with them in lodging First Information Report (FIR) against the suspects, and said that police had been pressurising them to withdraw their complaint against them. They revealed that the suspects were wanted in many heinous crimes but police was not arresting them due to the influence of Rao Shakir. They appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) to deliver justice and protect them. Published in Daily Times, September 13th 2018.