KARACHI, Nov 28: The Karachi University Teachers’ Society on Monday strongly criticized the decision of the Higher Education Commission in which it had barred ten varsities from new PhD admissions and termed it a conspiracy to usurp the independence of the varsities.

KUTS President Prof Dr Suhail Barkati and Secretary Sarwar Naseem, in their joint statement, said that the HEC decision had raised a question mark against the qualifications of more than 60 PhD students of the KU, under the supervision of the HEC Chairman Prof Dr Attaur Rehman.

They clarified that the KU was an autonomous institution, and they would not tolerate intervention of the HEC into its matters.

The KUTS office-bearers said that the Karachi University was the only university, where foreign examiners were hired to check research thesis.

They made it clear that the role of the Higher Education Commission was limited to issuing funds for varsities and advise them in various academic matters. They demanded that the HEC should stop dictating the varsities and recognize their independence and autonomy in their academic matters.—PPI