The Karachi University Teachers' Society (KUTS) on Monday strongly criticised the decision of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in which it had barred 10 universities from new admissions in PhD and termed it a conspiracy to usurp the independence of universities and intervene into their academic matters.
KUTS President Professor Dr Suhail Barkati and Secretary Sarwar Naseem, in their joint statement, said that the HEC decision had raised a question mark against the qualification of more than 60 PhD students of Karachi University, under supervision of HEC Chairman Professor Dr Atta-ur-Rehman.
They clarified that the Karachi University was an autonomous institution and they would not tolerate intervention of the HEC into its matters. They further said hat BASR and Academic Council of Karachi University were also autonomous bodies, and all PhD and M Phil degrees awarded by them were fully according to rules and regulation of the university and they were recognised not only in country but also abroad.
The KUTS leaders said that the Karachi University was the only varsity, where foreign examiners were hired to check research thesis. They added that most of them had been published and lauded by academic circles.
They made it clear that the role of HEC was limited to issuing funds for varsities and advice in various academic matters. They demanded that the HEC should stop issuing dictation and threats to universities and recognise their independence and autonomy in academic matters.