Lyari varsity may pull plug on Law College affiliation

VC flags allegedly illegal admissions beyond approved capacity

KARACHI:

Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University Lyari may revoke its affiliation with the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Law College over regulatory concerns, including allegedly illegal admissions beyond the college's approved capacity, Vice Chancellor Dr Hussain Mehdi said on Thursday, as the university awaits a report from the Charter Inspection and Evaluation Committee to determine the college's future.

Speaking at a press briefing at the university, Mehdi said the institution lacked its own law faculty, a requirement that had prompted objections from the committee over the college's affiliation.

He said the university would maintain the affiliation if the committee allowed it, provided the institution established its own School of Law. However, if the committee upheld its objections, the affiliation would be cancelled.

Mehdi alleged that the law college had admitted 200 students against an approved capacity of just 50 seats, describing the admissions as illegal. He also claimed that the college had admitted students expelled from a private university and subsequently issued them degrees.

The vice chancellor said the college's administrative status had remained contentious.

According to him, its management had previously designated it a constituent college of the university, although its administration remained with the Sindh government rather than the university. It was subsequently treated as an affiliated college despite the absence of a law faculty at the university.

The university is now awaiting the inspection committee's findings before deciding whether the affiliation can continue, he added.

Meanwhile, Mehdi announced that classes for the first batch of the Doctor of Physiotherapy programme would commence in January. The university has admitted 30 students to the programme, with further admissions under way.

He also said preparations were in progress to launch a nursing programme, for which the university would soon apply to the Higher Education Commission for a no-objection certificate.

Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr Umair Baig and other university officials were also present at the briefing.