The Sindh Assembly approved the 2025 university change bill on Monday, despite strong objections from the opposition legislators. The bill, which had been returned before by the governor, was reintroduced and adopted after a heated debate.
Members of the Mounthemi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Pakistan) and Pakistan Tehreek-E-insaf (PTI) firmly opposed the bill, singing slogans and creating disturbances in the Assembly. Despite opposition from the opposition, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Zia-Ul-Hassan Lanjar, presented the bill, which was then adopted by the Assembly.
The members of the opposition, including the MQM-P and PTI legislators, rushed to the speaker’s platform in protest, expressing their opposition to the bill. The opposition also organized a ranging in response to the adoption of the bill. Sindh Minister of Information, Sharjeel Inam Memon, criticized the opposition’s actions, accusing them of protest without understanding the content of the bill. He also pointed out that MQM and PTI had formed an alliance in the assembly.
The Sindh Assembly also discussed the bill on the modification of the civil courts of the Sindh (revised), which had been previously adopted but returned by the governor with objections. The Assembly approved the two bills, the opposition demonstrations continuing throughout the session.
The controversial bill authorizes superior bureaucrats in 21st 21 or more, with at least four years of experience and a relevant mastery, to be appointed vice-chancellor (VC) of universities of the public sector of Sindh. However, a doctorate is still required for the position of VC in engineering universities.
The bill also includes provisions concerning the resignation or retirement of bureaucrats looking for the CR post and sets an age limit for candidates.
This decision has aroused many criticisms from academics and teacher associations, who argue that a doctorate should remain the minimum qualification for the VC position, in particular for general universities. They expressed concerns that the appointment of bureaucrats with administrative history could undermine the academic integrity of universities.
Governor Kamran Tessori had previously raised concerns concerning the bill, declaring that the directives of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) require that the VCs are academicians, and not bureaucrats. Despite these objections, the Sindh provincial cabinet rejected the governor’s concerns and referred the bill to the Assembly for approval.
The adoption of the bill is considered to be part of the broader efforts of the provincial government led by the Pakistani peoples party to reform the criteria of university leadership.
However, criticism warns that the law could potentially affect the quality of higher education in the Sindh by allowing individuals without academic qualifications to play the role of VCS.
The Sindh assembly session was indefinitely postponed after heated debates and protests.
