APROPOS a news item published in the Metro pages on July 28 with the headline ‘Fapuasa warns govt of protest,’ acting Vice Chancellor Sindh Madressatul Islam University Dr Muhammad Ali Shaikh has clarified his position.

He has referred to the 13-i clause of Sindh Universities and Institutes Laws (Amendment) Act 2018 which states, “There shall be a vice chancellor of the university who shall be eminent academic and is qualified to be a full professor and shall be appointed by the chief minister for a period of four years, which may be extended for one more term on such terms as the chief minister may determine.”

Dr Shaikh has argued that “the law only restricts extension to one more term after the first term and doesn’t bar anyone who has completed two tenures from applying ‘afresh’ through a competitive process, provided he/she fulfills the eligibility criteria set by the government”.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2020