IT is rather unfortunate that the new academic year at the University of Karachi remained completely paralysed by a single event concerning a long-awaited selection board. At stake was the element of university autonomy. Interference by external actors was frustrating, and adversely affecting the environment.

The crisis started when the selection board, actually summoned on the orders of the Sindh High Court, was cancelled by the government’s department concerned. It was a violation of the court orders, and was an act of interference in the operations of a statutory body.

In the absence of a permanent vice-chancellor for the last couple of years, the whole process was already suffering from delays, and the interference made matters worse. Regardless of the recent crisis, however, what the government needs to do is to ensure the university’s autonomy.

Dr Intikhab Ulfat
Karachi

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2022