A dispute between the Karachi University (KU) administration and faculty members intensified on Tuesday after a large number of teachers boycotted semester examinations, severely disrupting academic activities on campus.
The boycott was announced last week by the Karachi University Teachers’ Society (Kuts), which accused the university administration of failing to address long-pending financial dues of teachers.
According to sources, most faculty members supported the protest, citing unpaid dues related to evening classes, paper checking, exam supervision, paper setting, vigilance duties, house ceiling claims and leave encashment.
Teachers said rising fuel prices and increasing living costs had further worsened their financial difficulties, while retired faculty members and non-teaching staff were also awaiting pending payments.
Kuts President Syed Ghufran Alam said the boycott was the result of continued administrative inaction despite repeated reminders from the teachers’ body.
He said Karachi University was facing a financial deficit of Rs. 1.3 billion and called on Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to order an inquiry into the matter for transparency and accountability.
Alam said the teachers would continue the semester boycott, while the next course of action would be decided during the Kuts general body meeting scheduled for Thursday.