KARACHI: The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (Fapuasa)-Sindh chapter has strongly condemned the recently passed Sindh Universities and Institutes Laws (Amendment) Bill and announced a complete two-day boycott of academic activities next week.

According to the new law, any bureaucrat holding a master’s degree can be appointed as a vice chancellor at any university.

“It’s a dark day in the history of Sindh’s universities. The amendments aim to place universities under complete political control, prioritising political appointments over education, research and academic freedom,” said Dr Ikhtiar Ghumro, who heads Fapuasa-Sindh and chaired the meeting.

He added that the association would continue its protest until the law was repealed.

In a statement, the association asserted that the new law, passed without consultation, was an attempt to dismantle universities’ autonomy and undermine their core values.

“Fapuasa members expressed concern that while governments in civilised societies respect the opinions of academicians, the Sindh government has adopted an authoritarian approach, disregarding faculty concerns,” the statement read.

It also criticised the provincial government’s deteriorating performance in education, healthcare, infrastructure and public services. The association further stated that instead of accepting responsibility for their failures and poor governance, provincial ministers were now threatening to close universities.

The members decided to hold a massive protest march in front of the Sindh Assembly and initiate legal action against the amendments soon.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2025