Govt accused of interfering in varsities’ affairs

PESHAWAR: The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, has accused the provincial government of `interfering` in the affairs of public sector universities and described the restrictions on recruitments in the institutions illegal.

Speaking at a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Monday, FAPUASA provincial general secretary Dr Sartaj Alam said with the approval of 18th Constitutional Amendment the federal government had devolved the education department to the provinces but the provincial government did not seem serous to promote higher education.

Flanked by the association`s general secretary Dr Ayaz Ahmad and other office-bearers, Dr Alam said the government was yet to appoint education minister to run the affairs seriously. He pointed out that all public sector universities were facing severe financial crisis due to appointments `based on nepotism`.

He alleged that the higher education department had violated autonomy of the public sector varsities by imposing restrictions on recruitments.

Dr Alam said the provincial government had adopted unfair treatment with the universities, which should be stopped immediately. He said the government was not giving grants to universities as per an agreement.

He urged the government to take notice of increasing financial issues of the universities and resolve all their problems on an emergency basis. He also asked for materializing the promise regarding imposition of education emergency in the province.