FAPUASA Sindh Condemns Govt Interference in Universities’ Autonomy

News Desk

Karachi: The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA) Sindh Chapter has strongly condemned the Sindh government’s amendments to the Sindh Universities and Institutes Law (Amendment) Act 2025, calling it a direct threat to academic autonomy. 

The amendments, which allow the appointment of non-academic bureaucrats as Vice Chancellors (VCs), have sparked serious concerns among faculty members and education stakeholders.

FAPUASA Sindh warns that these changes undermine the principles of academic freedom, institutional governance, and intellectual excellence in higher education. Sindh’s public universities have long played a pivotal role in research, social equity, and development, but these amendments risk turning them into bureaucratic extensions of the government.

Threat to Academic Excellence

The appointment of non-academic bureaucrats as VCs contradicts global best practices in university governance. Effective academic leadership requires expertise in teaching, research, and strategic planning—skills that career bureaucrats typically lack. 

FAPUASA Sindh argues that placing universities under bureaucratic control threatens their autonomy, erodes academic credibility, and weakens research output.

“This move appears to be part of a broader strategy to suppress critical thinking and dissent within academic circles,” said a FAPUASA Sindh spokesperson. “Universities are not government departments; they are centers of knowledge that must be governed by scholars, not bureaucrats.”

Impact on Higher Education

Sindh’s education system already faces severe financial shortages, lack of faculty, and deteriorating infrastructure. Instead of addressing these pressing issues, FAPUASA Sindh says the government’s amendments will legalize political interference, affecting faculty appointments, resource allocation, and academic standards.

“These changes will institutionalize incompetence, nepotism, and an administrative crisis,” the statement said. “By prioritizing political loyalty over academic merit, the government risks damaging Sindh’s higher education sector irreparably.”

Faculty’s Protest 

FAPUASA Sindh has announced a series of protests to resist these amendments. Faculty members will wear black ribbons daily while conducting classes and will educate students about the negative impact of these amendments. 

On Tuesday, academic activities will be suspended at noon to hold protest rallies at universities across Sindh. MPAs, ministers, and bureaucrats from the ruling party will be boycotted, and their university visits will be marked as ‘Black Days’ in protest of anti-education policies.

Faculty and students will mobilize in Karachi, Hyderabad, and Khairpur through general body meetings, with meeting dates to be announced in the upcoming FAPUASA Sindh Chapter online session.

Additionally, FAPUASA Sindh will file petitions to challenge the amendments in court and will raise the issue at national and international academic forums to expose the government’s interference in higher education.

Temporary Resumption of Academic Activities

Acknowledging the impact of the boycott on students, FAPUASA Sindh has decided to temporarily resume academic activities from Thursday, February 6.

However, they emphasize that their struggle will continue through strategic protests and legal action until the government repeals these amendments.

FAPUASA Sindh has urged the provincial government to reconsider its stance and restore university autonomy. “The Chief Minister of Sindh must acknowledge that governance failures stem from flawed VC appointments, not faculty.

The only solution is to prioritize merit-based selections from academia,” the statement read.

FAPUASA Sindh also extended its gratitude to its national leadership, media, civil society, human rights organizations, and students for their unwavering support. The association calls upon all stakeholders to remain united in this fight to protect higher education in Sindh.