Sindh govt opposes federal varsity in Hyderabad aimed at pleasing MQM

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KARACHI: The Sindh government has categorically opposed the establishment of a new university run by the federal government in Hyderabad aimed at pleasing the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Pakistan Today has learnt.

The MQM had been demanding a separate university on a linguistic basis. Their demand was approved a few years ago after which the university was named after the party’s former chief Altaf Hussain. “However, their wish of launching the university remained unfulfilled as the party remained in hot waters for more than two years,” sources told Pakistan Today.

As the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government comes closer to MQM, their earlier demand of a separate university was put before the ruling party and it was approved for the second time.

In this regard, Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister on Information, Law, and Anti-Corruption Barrister Murtaza Wahab while criticising Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan in a statement on Thursday said that to lay a foundation of a university for Hyderabad in Islamabad was an act of mocking the people of Sindh. “Among many of his zany undertakings, this was perhaps the most irresponsible,” he added.

Barrister Murtaza said that those who could not turn the Prime Minister House into a university as pledged were now talking about establishing a university in Hyderabad, adding that the prime minister should first tell the people about the approval of the charter of the university that had to be built in Islamabad,

He said that the prime minister had not taken an approval from the provincial government about establishing a university in Hyderabad and asked what was the reason that prompted the premier to secretly lay the foundation of a university meant for Hyderabad at the PM House. “Was he afraid of facing the people of Sindh?” Barrister Murtaza questioned.

He further said that to establish a university in Hyderabad without any legislation was unlawful. “Also, to draft the charter of a university in the absence of Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairman was also questionable,” he added.

The adviser said that after the passage of the 18th Constitutional Amendment, matters related to universities had been designated as a provincial subject and the federal government had nothing to do with it, therefore, the federal government should not take any decision by bypassing the rules and regulations.

Moreover, in a separate statement issued on Thursday, the adviser expressed his gratitude to the people who turned up to attend the public occasion held to pay reverence to Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on the occasion of his 40th death anniversary.

He said that such a huge turnout of people who came from every nook and corner of the country demonstrated the people’s trust in Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and its leadership.