Civil society, teachers slam Urdu University crisis, demand VC resignation

Allege financial mismanagement, governance failures as stalemate deepens at varsity

KARACHI:

Civil society members and teachers on Wednesday expressed concern over the ongoing crisis at the Federal Urdu University, terming it an institutional, constitutional, financial and administrative breakdown, which has intensified under the current leadership.

Speaking at a joint press conference, speakers included National Trade Union Federation Pakistan General Secretary Nasir Mansoor, educationist Dr Riaz Sheikh, historian Dr Syed Jaffar Ahmed, HRCP Sindh Vice Chairperson Qazi Khizar Habib, Home-Based Women Workers Federation leader Zahra Khan, Federal Urdu University Senate member Mehnaz Rahman, members of the university nomination committee Dr Syed Iqbal Hussain Naqvi and Dr Roshan Ali Sumro, Teachers Association Gulshan Campus President Prof Saadia Khaliq, General Secretary Dr Iftikhar Ahmad Tahiri, and Abdul Haq Campus Vice President Dr Asghar Dashti along with Joint Secretary Dr Irfan Aziz.

They raised serious concerns over the performance of Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zabta Khan Shinwari, alleging that administrative, financial and academic issues had significantly increased during his tenure. They said delays, a lack of transparency, and a "pick-and-choose" approach were evident in selection boards, promotions, financial matters and administrative decisions.

They further alleged that decisions were being taken without quorum in Senate and Syndicate meetings, while permanent faculty members were removed without Senate approval.

The participants also highlighted the failure of a Rs100 million solar system installed at the university, saying it had not helped resolve the ongoing electricity crisis and that serious technical flaws had been identified without any accountability.