KARACHI: A teachers’ body representing 12 public sector universities of the province threw its weight behind the Karachi Univer-sity Teachers’ Society (Kuts) and announced on Tuesday that a black day would be observed on Wednesday (today) in the institutions of higher learning across Sindh.

       The black day was scheduled to condemn “recent intimidation on behalf of the secretary-universities who forced the KU vice chancellor to cancel the proceedings of selection boards”.

       Representatives of the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (Fapuasa), Sindh chapter, and Kuts were speaking at a press conference held on the KU campus, where academic activities had been completely suspended for a week now over forced cancellation of the selection boards.

       The teachers unanimously demanded that the government immediately remove the incumbent secretary of the universities and boards and appoint an official “who is well aware of rules and regulations”.

       They also urged the government to withdraw the recently circulated letter (by the secretary) directing universities to frame service rules and allow institutions of higher learning to hold their selection boards under the mechanism defined in the Act.

       “We condemn the secretary’s threatening behaviour and express complete solidarity with KU teachers. We have also decided to suspend all academic activities across Sindh on Thursday (tomorrow) in protest if teachers’ meeting with minister Ismail Rahu scheduled for Wednesday (today) remains inconclusive,” said Prof Nek Mohammad Shaikh of Fapuasa.

       The public sector universities in the province, he said, were governed by the 2018 Act and their respective codes already had procedures in place for promotion and appointment; there was no question of drafting service rules.

       ‘SU to be close down in protest’

       Teachers at the event expressed concern over inquiries instituted against Sindh University (SU) teachers by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) and warned that they would close down the university in protest.

       “The ACE has chargesheeted 48 more employees. This brutal act has created chaos,” said Prof Shaikh.

       Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2022