KU teachers continue protest against amended law

The Karachi University Teachers Society (KUTS) organised an on-campus protest demonstration as part of their campaign to resist the Sindh Universities & Institutes Laws (Amendment) Bill 2018.

The organisation vowed to continue their protest until the provincial government withdraw all controversial amendments from the bill. The protesting teachers gathered at the Arts Lobby and marched towards the Azadi Chowk. They were holding placards and chanted slogans against the government.

Members of both groups of KUTS, the Karachi University Teachers Forum and Teachers Alliance for Good Governance participated. KUTS President Prof Jamil Kazmi said the faculties of the varsity had already rejected the amendment bill.

He said the representative bodies of teachers had been holding dialogue with the authorities since 2013 to resolve the issue, but the Sindh government has never carried out its promises. Therefore, he added, the teachers of Karachi University considered the bill an attack on the autonomous status of the varsities in the province.

Prof Kazmi remarked that the government wanted to destroy public sector higher educational institutions like state-run schools and government colleges. He further said research activities were the identity of any prestigious institute, and if the government intended to snatch the autonomy of the varsities, it would apparently affect research and academic activities.