Monday, the Sindh Assembly approved the university amendment on Monday 2025 despite strong objections from opposition legislators. The bill, previously returned by the governor, was reinstated and adopted after a heated debate.

Members of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) strongly opposed the bill, sang slogans and created disturbances in the assembly. Despite the opposition’s objections, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs presented Zia-Ul-Hassan Lanjar Bill, which was then adopted by the Assembly.

Opposition members, including MQM-P and PTI legislators, rushed to the speaker’s dais in protest and expressed their opposition to the bill. The opposition also staged a walkout in response to the bill. SINDH Information Minister Shariel Inam Memon criticized the opposition’s actions and accused them of protesting without understanding the content of the bill. He also noted that MQM and PTI had formed an alliance in the assembly.

The Sindh Assembly also discussed the Sindh Civil Courts amendment proposal (revised), which had previously been adopted, but returned by the governor with objections. The assembly approved both bills where opposition protests continued throughout the session.

The controversial bill enables senior bureaucrats in class-21 or more with at least four years of experience and a relevant master’s degree, to be appointed rector (VCs) at public universities in Sindh. However, a Ph.D. Still to VC position at engineering universities.

The Bill also contains provisions regarding the resignation or retirement of bureaucrats seeking the VC attitude and setting an age limit for applicants.

This decision has given rise to broad criticism from academics and teachers’ unions who claim that a doctorate must remain the minimum qualification for the VC position, especially for general universities. They have expressed concern that the appointment of bureaucrats with administrative background may undermine universities’ academic integrity.

Governor Kamran Tessori had previously raised concerns about the bill and said that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) guidelines require VCs to be academics, not bureaucrats. Despite these objections, Sindh Provincial rejected the Governor’s concerns and referred the bill back to the assembly for approval.

The departure of the bill is seen as part of broader efforts from Pakistan Peoples Party-led provincial government to reform university leadership criteria.

However, critics warn that the law could potentially harm the quality of higher education in Sindh by letting individuals without academic qualifications take on the role of VCS.

The Sindh Assembly Session was postponed indefinitely after the heated debates and protests.