Public universities are now under the CM’s thumb

Assembly passes controversial universities bill with minor changes

KARACHI: In a blow to universities’ autonomy in Sindh, the assembly pushed aside the governor’s objections and once again passed the Sindh Universities and Institutes Law (Amendment) Bill 2018, thereby transferring control of public universities and examination boards from the governor to chief minister.

The bill, which was presented by Parliamentary Minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, was opposed by all opposition members, who called it an ‘undemocratic legislation’. “We had passed this law on March 9, but it created controversy and the governor also objected to it. We are again moving this law, resolving the grievances of our teachers who are protesting against it,” Khuhro claimed, referring to widespread protests by students and faculty of public universities.

The government may have pushed aside the governor’s objections, but it took note of the protests and accepted a demand from the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (Fapuasa) to rework the admission policy clause. Earlier, the law that said the government would determine the admission policy of all public universities, but now it has been changed and the admission policy will be established by the university’s academic council ‘under the guidance of the provincial government’.



Another controversial aspect of the bill which has now been amended is the issue of syndicate members. In the earlier version of the bill, the finance and planning secretaries were to be members of the university syndicates, but in the revised law both have been removed. The third matter of concern for university staff and students was the clause that allowed the removal of the vice-chancellor or any other staff member by the CM if he or she was found guilty in any form of fraud or crime. According to the amendment, a committee will now be formed to investigate the issue and make a final decision.

Apart from this, no other changes have been made in the bill. Rejecting the bill, opposition members called the legislation an undemocratic effort. Opposition leader Khawaja Izharul Hasan endorsed the governor’s objections to the bill and said, “The governor has not signed the bill and returned it back to the assembly because we have written a letter to him, raising genuine concerns”. He added that when the assembly passed this law earlier on March 9, all the opposition members protested against it and their concerns were later reflected in the governor’s observations.

Hasan said they requested the governor to not sign it because the provincial government wanted to impose its own education policy on all educational institutions. “Why should the provincial government draft the education policy of well reputed institutions like the Institute of Business Administration? This is unfair,” he said.



Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah dispelled notions that the provincial government wanted to influence the admission policy and retain all academic powers. “The universities were held hostage by the office of the Sindh governor. We are trying to free them while giving them autonomous status,” he explained, adding that there will be equal representation of government and opposition members in the university syndicates. “Opposition members haven’t properly read the bill, that is why they have created a fuss in the House and are worried about it,” he said, adding that the governor’s objections were part of the federal government’s desire to roll back the provincial autonomy conferred in the 18th Amendment.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) parliamentary leader Syed Sardar Ahmed disagreed and said, “This bill is aimed at interfering in university affairs.” He said that earlier no minister or even governor had the power to influence the policy. “I suggest that a committee comprising education experts be formed and that they later bring the bill,” he said.

Faisal Subzwari of the MQM said that admissions at all public universities must be given on merit irrespective of ethnic background. “If any candidate qualifies the pre-entry test then he or she must be given admission in the respective varsity,” he urged. “Some friends in this session spoke about Karachi University, which according to them has barred students from rural Sindh from getting admission. I want to know how many Karachi students get admission in Mehran University of Science and Technology in Jamshoro,” he said. “My plea is to please allow the academic council of all public universities to make its own decision about admission policy,” Subzwari remarked.



“We will not allow anyone to employ dictatorial powers,” said Khuhro, adding that before this law no one had dared to questions the performance of vice-chancellors who were given free hand to loot public university funds. “A majority of the people in this House demand accountability even of judges and the army. So, why should VCs get away scot free?” he demanded, adding that the governor does not attend assembly sessions and no one can even criticise him. “Karachi University is my university. What is wrong with bringing it under a watchdog to make it accountable?” asked the parliamentary minister. He said all institutions and departments would cross their limits if the government failed to monitor them.

Regarding Sindh and Mehran universities, Khuhro said, “We want to devise an unbiased mechanism so that no one will have objections over admission policies.”

Despite the opposition’s protest, the bill was passed with majority votes.