KARACHI – Karachi University Teachers Society (KUTS) President Abid Hasnain on Thursday wrote a letter to Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan – also the KU Chancellor – apprising him about legal irregularities in the university’s system as the KU Syndicate has been working without any representation from the varsity senate and that memberships of six syndicate members have expired. The teachers of University of Karachi (KU) have pit themselves against the administration and warned of starting a movement for alleged violations of varsity laws.
In the KU Academic Council elections held on Thursday, the teachers participated in the poll wearing black armbands to register their protest against the university management.
Meanwhile, in the letter written on behalf of the KU teachers, Hasnain has disclosed that the syndicate has been working without the senate’s representation for the past three and a half years. The letter, under the subject ‘serious violation of university code’, explains that as per varsity laws, the senate elects its two representatives for representation in the varsity syndicate for witnessing the scheduled proceedings. However, neither the senate has elected its representatives nor the syndicate invited them.
Although the syndicate worked with quorum taking two important decisions in its last two proceedings, the meetings included six syndicate members whose memberships have expired. In the letter, the KUTS president termed the two syndicate meetings in absence of the required quorum a clear violation of university code and demanded that the university chancellor declares the two decisions of the KU Syndicate null and void. Hasnain, when approached for comments, said the KUTS representatives had held meetings to review the two controversial syndicate meetings and decided to meet KU Vice Chancellor Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui to tell him about the reservations of the university teachers.
The KUTS representatives met the KU vice chancellor and informed him about legal formalities and violations of university code, he said, adding that Siddiqui listened to their concerns and assured them of action but failed to implement its own decision. Hasnain said the varsity teachers would continue their protest against the administration until their demands are met. “We are waiting for the response from the Governor’s House and a KUTS meeting would be held soon to discuss the future plan,” said the KUTS president.
