The teaching community of the public sector universities has rejected the passage of amendments in the University of Peshawar Act 1974 and vowed to launch a protest movement against the legislation. Addressing a news conference, Central President, Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA), Professor Dr Maher Saeed called for taking senior academicians on board before making any changes or reforms in the law.
The provincial legislature of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had passed the Model University Act during the current session of the house by making amendments into the University of Peshawar (UoP) 1974 Act. The amendments in the act, he said has created unrest in varsities throughout the country.
FAPUASA Chief Professor Dr Maher Saeed denounced those who were engaged in the development of the controversial act backed by the Chancellor of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa universities. Neither senior academicians nor faculty members had been taken into confidant regarding the Act, he lamented.
Accompanied by FAPUASA Presidents all over the country, representatives, and senior faculty members, he asked the Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who is also Chancellor of Public Sector Universities in the province to workout a plan in the better interest of the varsities, if he can't not do so, then, he should resign following the passage of Anti-varsities Act.
He said the amendments had hurriedly made into University of Peshawar 1974 Act without consent of senior academicians and relevant body. Dr Mehar asked the all universities administration to stand up against imposition of the controversial Model University Act.
The Act was a dictatorial step, which could not feasible for varsities. But, also effects the university structure as senior academicians representation had been shrunken in two superior bodies of the varsity, including Senate and Syndicate through presenting the controversial Model University Act, he opined.
The 1974 Act, he said, had implemented in 72 varsities of the country, saying the new controversial Act could not be imposed on the Khyber Pakhtunkwa universities, he asked. If there was need of reforms and amendments in the previous Act, then it should have introduced it with the consent of senior academicians of the concerned varsity.
Professor Dr Maher Saeed warned of the launching a countrywide campaign in case of the failure of the in withdrawal of the amendments in the University of Peshawar 1974 Act. The anti-model university Act drive has been started from Peshawar, will be extended to all public sector varsities of the country, he explained.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2010

Comments

Comments are closed.