SHC directs petitioners to file amended plea

Court observes Sindh Universities Amendment Bill had been converted into an Act

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court granted on Tuesday permission to file an amended plea against the Sindh Universities Amendment Bill, 2018.

A two-member bench heard the petition against the controversial law. A lawyer representing petitioners informed the court that the bill had become an Act as the Sindh Assembly passed it again after the governor refused to give his consent.

The lawyer argued that the bill was illegal and, hence, it should be proscribed. The court was informed that 24 universities of Sindh had been placed under the administrative control of the chief minister through the new law.



The petitioners stated that the bill aimed to shut doors of education to youths of urban areas. The new law had snatched the autonomy of varsities as eight out of 10 members of the varsities' syndicates will now be appointed by bureaucrats, the court was informed.



The SHC observed that the petition had become ineffective as it mentioned the word 'bill', whereas, the bill was now converted into an Act. Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar remarked that a new plea should be filed before the court sought replies from the respondents, who included the governor, chief minister, Sindh Assembly speaker, chief secretary and others.



The SHC directed the petitioners to file another plea, adjourning the hearing for indefinite period.