The University of Karachi (KU) has told the Sindh High Court that a proposed constitution for its Student Council is still waiting for approval from the Sindh government. The university filed its response on Friday to a petition seeking the restoration of student unions and elections at educational institutions.
In its reply, the university said the draft had been forwarded to the Universities & Boards Department on December 12, 2022. According to the university, the Central Students Advisory Council prepared the constitution, and the registrar later sent it to the department secretary. The document remains pending with the relevant department, the university said.
University says petitioners have not shown rights violation
KU maintained that the petitioners had failed to establish any violation of their fundamental constitutional rights. It said work on a constitution for restoring student unions and setting an election procedure had already begun.
The university also pointed out that the court had previously dismissed a petition on the same matter. It asked the court to declare the fresh petition inadmissible and dismiss it. The SHC then adjourned the hearing for an indefinite period.
Petitioners argue elections possible under existing law
At the previous hearing, counsel for the petitioners, Usman Farooq Advocate, argued that elections could be held under the existing law without additional rules and regulations. He said the university’s reliance on the non-approval of rules was not a valid reason to delay the process.
The petition was filed by students of the University of Karachi’s School of Law, including Ali Sher Muhammad Haris. They argued that the Sindh Students Union Act provides a framework for student unions across the province. They also said institutions were required to frame procedures for union elections within two months of the relevant regulations being enacted.
Sindh Students Union Bill’s path to assembly approval
The Sindh Students Union Bill was first drafted in 2019 and referred to the Standing Committee on Law and Parliamentary Affairs. After two years of consultations with various stakeholders, the Sindh Assembly unanimously passed the legislation in February 2022, with support from both treasury and opposition members.
