KARACHI: Seeing no positive response from the government on the fourth day of their boycott, the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (Fapuasa) on Tuesday decided to continue the boycott of academic activities in public sector universities on Wednesday (today).

“Today, the association held an online meeting where there was a unanimity of opinion that the classes’ boycott should continue on Wednesday [today],” said Dr Ikhtiar Ghumro, head of the association.

He added that the teachers’ representatives discussed in detail the ongoing protest against the Sindh government’s proposed amendments to the universities law and related policies.

The teachers, he said, expressed serious concerns over the Sindh government’s persistent attempts to amend the Universities Act, particularly the proposal to allow the appointment of bureaucrats as vice chancellors of public sector universities.

“Such amendments pose a significant threat to the academic independence of universities, which should be led by qualified academicians,” he said, emphasising the collective commitment of university teachers to protect the autonomy and integrity of higher education institutions in Sindh.

The teachers would meet again on Wednesday to discuss the impasse.

In a statement, the association reiterated its demands, calling upon the government to withdraw the directive transferring the authority of issuing no-objection certificates (NOCs) for faculty foreign visits from vice-chancellors to the Universities and Boards Department.

“Revoke the notification mandating future university appointments on a contract basis, undermining job security,” it read.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the Karachi University Teachers’ Society met city chief of the Jamaat-i-Islami Monem Zafar and apprised him of their boycott.

The JI leader assured them of support and said that plan to appoint bureaucrats as VCs aimed at achieving political objectives.

Published in Dawn, January 22th, 2025