KARACHI: Teachers’ struggle against the government move to appoint bureaucrats as vice chancellors of public sector institutions of higher learning gained more momentum on Tuesday when representatives of civil society joined faculty members from universities across the province outside the Karachi Press Club and held a demonstration.

They were joined by students and representatives of Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association (SPLA), Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST), the University of Karachi, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and Karachi Bar Association.

The protest was organised by the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (Fapuasa)-Sindh chapter.

Addressing the gathering, teachers and rights activists unequivocally condemned the government for “undermining the autonomy of educational institutions by attempting to impose non-academicians in leadership roles”.

They said such amendments and policies represent “a blatant attack” on academic freedom and institutional integrity.

They also regretted a recent statement by the chief minister in which he justified the government move, while expressing his inability to remove some vice chancellors facing allegations of sexual harassment and corruption. They questioned the performance of bureaucrats and said there was not a single department where their performance could be declared as satisfactory. “The provincial government’s policies for the heads of educational boards and universities are simply unacceptable. They will further deteriorate academic standards,” said Munawwar Abbas representing SPLA, while referring to the bill tabled a day earlier in the assembly for appointing bureaucrats as head of educational boards.

In his remarks, Dr Tausif Ahmed Khan, retired associate professor of FUUAST, said: “What’s happening right now is not expected of the Pakistan Peoples Party government. Unfortunately, the autonomous status of the universities including powers of the vice chancellor has severely been curtailed by changing the relevant law over the years.

The federally-run universities, he pointed out, fared no better where retired teachers had been deprived of their pensions for five months.

In his remarks, HRCP vice chairperson Sindh region Qazi Khizar urged the government to consult teachers, the key stakeholders in the relevant crisis, before tabling the amendment on the floor of the provincial assembly.

“The government alone is responsible for the mess in universities as it makes all key appointments. Its admission of failure in not removing the vice chancellors facing allegations demonstrates its own weakness,” he said.

On the proposed amendment, Mr Khizar questioned how the government could appoint bureaucrats as head of universities when there is a set academic and research criteria for teachers to meet for appointment and later promotion.

On behalf of the KBA, vice president of the bar association Advocate Kazim Hussain Mahesar extended full support to Fapuasa and said the association stood behind the teachers and would help them in their struggle.

The speakers included Fapuasa President Dr Ikhtiar Ghumro, Dr Mohsin Ali of Karachi University Teachers’ Society and Abdul Rehman Nangraj representing Fapuasa.

Later, the teachers held a meeting and announced to hold a nationwide “black day” this Thursday.

The association also announced its decision to file a petition challenging the legality of the proposed amendment/s and resolved to continue the boycott of academic activities till Friday. A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for Saturday.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2025

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