Black day observed at all public universities in Sindh

All public sector universities of the province observed ‘Black Day’ on Wednesday over the controversy over advertisements published by the government for the posts of registrar and controller of examinations in 19 varsities of the province. The teaching community wore black armbands while conducting classes while black flags were also hoisted in government- run educational institutions. The call for observing black day was given by the Sindh president of the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association, Dr Ayaz Keerio, on Monday, July 27, during a press conference at the Karachi University. Following the announcement, the president of Fapuasa Pakistan, Dr Naimatullah Laghari, also endorsed the decision, ensuring full support for the cause. Similar advertisements had been published a year ago in May 2014 by the government, evoking the same reaction of protests and boycotts by teaching faculties across the province. The faculty in Karachi University (KU) arranged a protest walk from administration block to the Silver Jubilee gate against the controversial advertisement by the Sindh government. The teachers also blocked University Road for 15 to 20 minutes, choking the traffic flow during that time, as they chanted slogans against the Sindh government and demanded withdrawal of the controversial advertisement immediately. The protest walk was led by the acting president of Karachi University Teachers Society, Prof Dr Mutahir Ahmed, and secretary, Prof Dr Haris Shoaib. The teachers condemned the act of the Sindh government and termed it as an attack on universities’ autonomy, saying it would ruin the academic performance of universities. The teachers also demanded from the government to adhere to the written agreement made with FAPUASA to table an amendment to the Universities Act 2013 in the Sindh Assembly. The KUTS and teachers also declared their full support to the leadership of FAPUASA and decisions taken by them. “The Sindh government should withdraw this controversial ad before August 10,” they demanded. “Otherwise, the government would have to face a strong reaction from teachers’ and officers’ associations of the province. If, the government fails to meet the deadline then FAPUASA and other associations will hold a meeting on August 12, about a stricter course of action.” Prof Mutahir Ahmed warned if the Sindh government did not take appropriate action within the given deadline, then teachers and officers of the KU would shut down the varsity for safeguarding the autonomy of the universities. However, he said, teachers’ associations of all public sector universities and FAPUASA will hold an internal meeting on August 12 to review the situation and then call a general councils’ meeting at their respective universities to for endorsement by each of the stakeholders after the federal body reveals its decision. Recalling the similar situation in 2014, Ahmed said the teaching community had reacted strongly then too and boycotted academic activities in all 19 government institutions of Sindh, forcing the government to withdraw the controversial advertisements. He said the institutions would recreate the same situation to get the government withdraw the advertisements this year too. Talking about government’s previous attempt to impose its policy, Ahmed said teachers’ associations were not happy with the Sindh government which had for the second time, advertised university posts of registrar and controller of examinations, in local newspapers. “The Sindh government had agreed to resolve the matter and had committed to FAPUASA that it would not publish such ads in the future,” he said. “But now they have once again recreated a controversial situation after assuring academic associations that it would draft the resolution for amending the universities act to be approved by the Sindh Assembly.” The protesting teachers also warned the government that if the advertisements for the posts of registrar and controller examinations were not withdrawn, FAPUASA will be free to take any extreme action by joining hands with all university teachers and officers in Sindh. Compensation rejected Meanwhile, the teachers’ community also rejected Sindh government’s proposed compensation for the family of slain KU assistant professor, prof Dr Waheed-ur-Rehman, and termed the compensation amount of Rs1.5 million to be a joke to the bereaved family. The KUTS had demanded an amount of Rs50 million as compensation for two young daughters and widow of the slain professor. The KU teachers’ association also asked the government to provide sufficient financial aid to public sector universities so they could perform better.