Karachi University’s ongoing crisis has intensified after faculty members strongly rejected a government-supported proposal intended to end the examination boycott, highlighting rising frustration over the administration’s handling of employees’ unpaid dues, according to Dawn.

During a general body meeting, the Karachi University Teachers’ Society (Kuts) resolved to continue its protest and uphold the boycott of semester examinations despite efforts by provincial authorities to mediate. Teachers reportedly opposed any settlement that did not ensure the immediate release of their long-overdue payments.

The conflict escalated after the Sindh Higher Education Commission (SHEC) issued a notification following a June 1 meeting attended by representatives of Kuts, the Officers Welfare Association (OWA), and the Employees Welfare Association (EWA). The notification announced the formation of a six-member committee to review the financial and administrative concerns affecting university staff.

Led by the SHEC chairperson and comprising senior government officials along with employee representatives, the committee has been instructed to evaluate grievances, determine financial implications, consult stakeholders, and submit recommendations within 40 days. The notification further claimed that employee representatives had agreed to immediately end the examination boycott and allow the university to reschedule disrupted exams.

However, the teachers’ general body declined to approve the arrangement, maintaining that only the collective body that launched the protest had the authority to withdraw it. Kuts President Dr Syed Ghufran Alam stated that while union representatives appreciated the dialogue and expressed optimism during discussions with SHEC, the wider teaching community remained dissatisfied. Faculty members reportedly accused the university administration of fostering mistrust and insisted that no agreement would be accepted until all pending payments were cleared.

Employees also objected to the vice chancellor’s involvement in negotiations. The protest revolves around unpaid compensation for evening classes, examination duties, paper setting, copy checking, leave encashment, and other benefits. Backed by non-teaching staff, the teachers have additionally demanded a detailed inquiry into the university’s worsening financial condition and pledged to continue their strike until their demands are fulfilled, Dawn reported.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.