KARACHI: Expressing serious concern over the recent appointment of a pro-vice chancellor at Sindh University (SU), the Sindh chapter of the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (Fapuasa) announced on Wednesday that it would suspend classes at nine public sector universities of the province on April 18 in protest.

“In order to show solidarity with SU teachers and register their condemnation against amendments to the Sindh Universities Act, teachers at all universities will observe a black day on April 18. Classes will also be suspended at Karachi University on the day in protest,” stated a press release issued by the Karachi University Teachers Society (Kuts) after its meeting.

Members of Kuts at the meeting raised serious reservations over what they described as continued interference of the government in universities’ affairs and said that the government had repeatedly failed to honour its commitments.

“Two years have passed but there has been no progress on the part of the government to address teachers’ concerns over the amendments to the act, which aimed at ruining the autonomous status of the universities,” the members noted.

According to the press statement, the chief minister has recently appointed a junior teacher pro-vice chancellor of the SU without consulting its vice chancellor. Teachers of the university have been holding protest over the appointment, but the government hasn’t taken any notice.

“Earlier, a junior lecturer was appointed pro-vice chancellor at Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto University Larkana. Similar illegal actions have been taken in other universities, which is highly condemnable,” the press release stated.

SU strike: conflicting claims

Meanwhile, the Sindh University Teachers Association (Suta) on Wednesday claimed that all academic activities at the institution remained suspended in response to its call for a strike against ‘interference’ by the CM secretariat and Governor House in the SU affairs.

A rival group of teachers led by Dr Ayaz Keerio, however, contested the Suta claim made in a statement issued by its president Arfana Mallah.

Ms Mallah said that a protest demonstration was held outside the arts faculty by SU syndicate members, senior professors and other teachers.

Former Suta president Dr Ayaz Keerio, however, claimed that the strike call was totally ignored as academic activities at the SU continued on Wednesday as usual and faculty members, employees and officers discharged their normal duties.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2016