Appointments of bureaucrats as Sindh varsities’ VCs anger faculty, parties

Appointments of bureaucrats as vice chancellors to Sindh universities have sparked a significant backlash from university faculty and political parties.

This controversy arises amid efforts to make the PhD requirement optional, which contradicts directives issued by President Asif Zardari aimed at reforming the appointment policy.

In a letter dated August 6, President Zardari's secretary, Shakeel Malik, urged Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to ensure that vice chancellor appointments are filled through a more transparent and competitive process.

The letter highlighted that most current vice chancellors hail from within the province and emphasized the need for a recruitment strategy that aligns with international standards, thereby encouraging applications from across Pakistan and attracting global talent.

Despite these recommendations, the provincial government appears to be favouring bureaucratic appointments over a competitive selection process. All advertisements for vice chancellor positions in Sindh universities have mandated candidates to possess Sindh’d domicile, effectively excluding applicants from outside the province or abroad. This has resulted in a repetitive selection of a limited pool of candidates for these roles.

Additionally, the age limit for vice chancellors in Sindh is set at 62 years, while other provinces and federal positions allow candidates up to 65 years. This restriction has left Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto University of Law without a VC for over a year.

Furthermore, judges of the high court, who also retire at 62, are barred from applying for these positions. Despite recommendations from the Search Committee, appointments to Larkana University and Sufi University in Bhitshah have remained unfilled for more than a year.