The Shah Abdul Latif University Teachers Association (SALUTA) and the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) Sindh today held a protest demonstration outside Khairpur Press Club against the Sindh government’s proposal to appoint bureaucrats as VCs in the provincial universiites.

Speaking on the occasion, SALUTA President Dr Akhtiar Ali Ghumro described the proposed amendment as a “political coup” aimed at undermining academic freedom. Ghumro warned that the decision could result in authoritarian control over educational institutions, compromising their independence. He pledged nationwide protests if the government does not reconsider its stance.

SALUTA General Secretary Hisamuddin accused bureaucrats of mismanaging institutions across Sindh, stating that universities should not fall under bureaucratic control. He urged the government to reconsider the decision to protect higher education.

Engineer Ali Raza Chachar, from Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University of Technology and Skill Development, highlighted the broader societal implications of such a decision. He noted that the policy would leave negative consequences for society at various levels.

Similarly, Dr Kaleemullah Bhatti, from Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET), called on political leaders to address the issue urgently and urged support for FAPUASA in resisting the move.

Murad Ali Pirzada, from the Officers Association at Shah Abdul Latif University, criticized the performance of bureaucrats in the past, stating that their involvement had already caused significant damage to Sindh’s institutions. He described the proposed amendment as a critical blow to the province’s education sector.