With empty seats and a falling marquee,a convocation ill-planned

Karachi
The University of Karachi’s Silver Jubilee Convocation on Saturday was marred by mismanagement as many senior teachers left in the middle of the proceedings and did not even bother to witness the ceremony.
When the vice- and pro chancellor were delivering their speeches, an audience of only a few hundred was left and thousands of chairs were empty. Many teachers and guests had left soon after degrees and gold medals were awarded.
Probably for first time in history of the university, private photographers were seen at a convocation offering graduate students “memorable pictures” for just Rs200.
The security staff and the management of the convocation committee took no notice of these happenings.
As the 25th convocation was about to begin, several poles supporting the marquee there were dislodged by wind, injuring a female guest who was provided with first-aid at a nearby medical camp.
The senior teachers who remained till the end were hopeful that the chief guest would announce grants for the cash-strapped university or at least a grant of Rs5 million he had promised in the last convocation, but they were all disappointed.
A few years ago, Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq, the then provincial education minister, had promised to release Rs1 million to the university on behalf of the organisation named after his grandfather. “But so far, the university has not received that money”, a senior faculty member told The News requesting anonymity.
The graduating students of the BS and MS programme were also disappointed that they were not given gold medals despite securing top positions.