The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has introduced the Universities Amendment Bill 2024, proposing notable reforms to the management of universities in the province.
Under the proposed legislation, presented in the KP Assembly by Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam, the role of university chancellor will transfer from the governor to the chief minister. Additionally, the authority to appoint vice-chancellors (VCs) will also rest with the chief minister.
Key Provisions of the Bill
- Vice Chancellor Appointments:
- The chief minister will select VCs from a list of three candidates recommended by the Academic Search Committee.
- Tenure and Performance:
- VCs will serve a four-year term, with a mid-term performance review after two years. If their performance rating falls below 65%, their tenure may be terminated.
- Registrar Appointments:
- The bill proposes a revised procedure for appointing registrars, allowing the chancellor to choose a registrar from among the university’s administrative officers.
Assembly Discussions
During a session chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, Minister Aftab Alam also addressed recent violence in the Kurram district, attributing it to the spread of misinformation on social media. “We visited Kurram immediately after the clashes,” he informed the House, emphasizing that efforts to disarm those involved were ongoing. A peace jirga has been empowered by the chief minister to mediate, and an operation to seize weapons will soon commence.
Opposition member and PML-N MLA Jalal Khan criticized political violence at D-Chowk, condemning leadership for the unrest and urging dialogue over conflict. “Stop playing with the lives of innocent people,” he demanded, holding leaders accountable for the casualties during the protest.
The session concluded with a quorum challenge raised by opposition member Nisar Baz, leading to an adjournment until December 3 at 2 PM.
