The Karachi University Teachers’ Society (KUTS) on Thursday observed a ‘black day’ and staged a protest demonstration in which a large number of teachers, officers and employees participated, expressing grave concern over the university’s worsening financial crisis.
Representatives of various campus organisations also joined the protest, including Employees Welfare Association president Zahid Hussain and Karachi University Officers Welfare Association president Faisal Hashmi, along with hundreds of teachers and staff members.
The gathering was held in a sombre atmosphere due to the passing of KUTS joint secretary Taha bin Niaz, for whom participants offered prayers. Despite the grief, teachers and employees registered their protest in what they described as a responsible and organised manner.
The protesters unanimously demanded the immediate payment of long-pending dues, including house ceiling and its arrears, evening remuneration, supervisors’ fees, paper checking, paper setting, examination invigilation, leave encashment and other outstanding payments.
Participants strongly criticised the continued non-payment of these basic dues, stating that it had pushed teachers and staff into severe financial hardship, which, they said, was unacceptable in the context of rising inflation.
Addressing the gathering, KUTS president Ghufran Alam stressed the urgent need for competent, capable and accountable leadership to steer the university’s financial affairs in the right direction. He said a sustainable solution to the financial crisis was not possible without transparency, professional competence and effective governance.
He urged the Sindh chief minister to ensure that a robust system of annual checks and accountability be introduced for future vice chancellors to prevent recurring financial mismanagement. A similar accountability mechanism was also demanded for the incumbent vice chancellor.
He warned that if immediate and practical steps were not taken to resolve the issues, the scope and intensity of the protest would be expanded, and examinations scheduled from May 5 would be boycotted in line with a jointly adopted resolution.
The protesters also called upon the Sindh government to entrust the university’s financial responsibilities only to individuals who are credible, competent and accountable, and to ensure effective accountability for past financial irregularities.
