In opposition to proposed changes to the Universities Act, academic staff at Sindh's universities have been on strike and boycotting classes for the past few days, according to Jang.

The Federation of All Pakistan Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA) is calling for the repeal of these modifications since they will make it possible for bureaucrats to hold vice-chancellor positions. Until the changes are repealed, the demonstration will go on.

Protesting university teachers took to the streets on Wednesday, amid their ongoing province-wide boycott of academic events, and demanded that the government revoke its proposal to designate bureaucrats as vice chancellors of public sector universities and issue a notice about the contractual hiring of teachers.

KU's Silver Jubilee gate was the site of a rally in the morning, attended by teachers from the city's three main universities: Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU), the University of Karachi, and NED University of Engineering and Technology.

Sindh University and Mehran University of Engineering and Technology in Jamshoro, the University of Sufism and Modern Sciences in Bhitshah, the Agricultural University in Tandojam, the Government College University in Hyderabad, and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University in Larkana also witnessed similar demonstrations.

Teachers in Jamshoro who were protesting blamed the provincial government for the students' defeat since they boycotted classes.

On the Sindh University campus, Mehran University's Dr. Nasrullah Pirzada informed the media, "The universities are closed for five days, but they have not bothered to withdraw the controversial proposal or contact teachers' representatives to end the impasse."

Plan to expand protests

According to Dr. Ikhtiar Ghumro, president of Fapuasa, academic associations from different universities will work together to plan rallies at press clubs in Hyderabad, Khairpur, and Karachi.

He noted that the association intended to raise awareness of the persistent problems in the days ahead by holding joint press conferences with the leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly, as well as other political parties and MPAs.

Fapuasa would hold rallies and news conferences outside the Sindh Assembly if a bill with the modification permitting bureaucrats to hold vice chancellor positions is introduced, the association threatened in a statement.