Teachers' protest over fresh appointments: boycott of classes enters second day in Sindh Universities

Academic activities in all the public sector universities of Sindh remained suspended for the second consecutive day on Tuesday in the wake of boycott of classes by teachers. The call for boycotting classes was given by Federation of All-Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association's (Fapuasa)'s Sindh chapter.
The educational institutions where academic activities remained suspended for the second consecutive day included the University of Karachi, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Dow University of Health Sciences, Jinnah Sindh Medical University Karachi, Dawood University of Engineering and Technology, Sindh University, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, Khairpur's Shah Abdul Latif University and others.
The Fapuasa had given a call for boycotting classes in all the public sector universities of the province following Sindh government had invited applications for making fresh appointments on the posts of Registrar, Controller of Examinations and Director Finance in all 20 public sector universities of the province.
A senior professor at University of Karachi, Dr Mutahir said: "We have no other option, but to boycott the classes because we have been continuously demanding revision of Sindh Universities Law Amendment Act, 2013." He criticised Sindh government's recent advertisement through which applications had been invited for appointment of registrar, director of finance and controller of examinations in all public sector universities.
Meanwhile, the academic staff of the 16 public sector universities of the province remained indecisive about their next strategy whereby they could press the government for the acceptance of its demands. According to sources, the Fapuasa's Sindh chapter despite holding meetings in different universities has, so far, failed to devise its future line of action.
A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Fapuasa's Sindh chapter is, however, being convened on Wednesday to discuss the issue at length. Sources told this correspondent that boycott of the academic activities would continue till the government withdraws the advertisement and accepts its demand concerning the public sector's universities Act.
"Rift in the ranks of Fapuasa-Sindh is the main cause behind the varsity's academic staff body's indecisiveness on the issue," sources said, adding that Fapuasa had also warned Sindh government at the time of promulgation of said `controversial' Act, but it failed to pressurise the government for the acceptance of its demands.