Public varsities to observe yet another ‘black day’ on April 18

 Teachers’ associations claim pro-VC at Sindh University

was appointed in violation of rules and regulations

Karachi

With the row between public sector university teachers’ associations and provincial government, over the Sindh Universities Act, 2013, intensifying, all public sector universities in Sindh decided to observe a ‘black day’ on April 18 (Monday) against the government’s alleged ignorance of rules and regulations while appointing a pro-vice chancellor (PVC) at the University of Sindh.

The announcement was made by the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (Fapuasa) on Wednesday and was endorsed by the Karachi University Teachers Society (KUTS), Sindh University Teachers Association (SUTA) and others.

Members of KUTS and teachers announced to gather at the Arts lobby at 10:30am and stage a protest against the Sindh government and its decision of interfering into autonomy of public sector universities through the Sindh Universities Act, 2013.

According to a statement issued, the KUTS observed that it condemned the CM secretariat’s interference with the university’s autonomy and were also concerned over it.

The association claimed that the CM appointed a professor, who was placed on number 14th as per the list of senior professors as the PVC without prior discussions with the university’s VC.

“The KUTS stands hand-in-hand with the SUTA against appointment of the pro-vice chancellor. All teachers, from Karachi to Larkana, are united and ready to resist any fight for the autonomy of universities,” read the statement

The association strongly rejected the unilateral amendments made by the Sindh Assembly in the universities act and condemn the breach of MoU between Sindh government and Fapuasa by the CM secretariat, KUTS President Prof Dr Shakeel-ur-Rehman Farooqui said. 

We demand that amendments made in the universities act be revoked and the autonomy of the universities restored, whereas the PVC wrongfully appointed be removed, he added.

Further elaborating on its claims, the KUTS observed that the CM secretariat had previously appointed a junior lecturer as the PVC of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, in Larkana, whereas a registrar was directly appointed at the Dow Medical University while a professor at the Liaquat University of Health Sciences was also appointed in the same manner.