KARACHI, May 15: The teachers of the University of Karachi and other public sector varsities in Sindh on Monday observed black-day against what they called “the attitude and defaming policies” of the Higher Education Commission towards public-sector universities.

The call for observing the day was given by the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations - Sindh Chapter, after the HEC objected to promotions and appointments at three Sindh varsities and threatened freezing their grants.

However, the issue was resolved last week at a meeting presided over by the Sindh governor with the HEC’s officials and representatives of public varsities in the province.

President of the Karachi University Teachers Society Sarwar Nasim, its Secretary Dr Aqeel Ahmed, and some other teachers wore black armbands. They visited different teaching departments to share their concerns with other faculty members.

The black-day was also observed by teachers of the NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi and the Sindh University Jamshoro on the appeal of the FAPUASA.

Teachers wore black armbands and held protest meetings at their respective campuses.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the KUTS executive council presided over by its President Sarwar Nasim at the KU endorsed the stance of the KUTS and demanded that unnecessary interference of the HEC into the affairs of varsities should be stopped immediately.

The meeting also demanded the KU administration to speed up the process of selection boards for selection and promotion of teachers and said that the KU’s vice-chancellor should be asked to complete all pending cases of selection boards by December 31, 2006.

The KUTS executive council also expressed concern over the security system at the campus and demanded the varsity’s administration to take effective measures to curb increasing incidents of thefts and dacoities at the campus.

It also criticized frequent power breakdowns at the campus and urged the KU’s VC, Dr Pirzada Qasim, to install a power generating plant at the campus to ensure uninterrupted power supply.

The KUTS executive council also requested Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri to waive visa restrictions among SAARC countries for teachers of public sector varsities similar to that practised for parliamentarians, artists and other segments of society.—PPI