University of Karachi. Photo: Archive
KARACHI:
The proposal to separate the internationally recognized International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) from the University of Karachi has been put on hold after the Sindh chief minister ordered the postponement of a key meeting of the Charter Inspection and Evaluation Committee (CIEC), officials said on Thursday.
The CIEC meeting, scheduled for Friday to discuss the legal draft for the separation of ICCBS, was postponed on instructions from the Chief Minister’s House, temporarily halting the process. The draft had earlier been submitted to the Sindh Cabinet, which forwarded it to the committee for review.
Despite the pause, donors associated with ICCBS continue to push for the institute to be separated from the university.
Meanwhile, the ICCBS Action Committee held a press conference outside the institute, demanding a ban on the readmission of retired professor Dr Iqbal Chaudhry to the University of Karachi. Representatives of the committee alleged that his 21-year tenure as ICCBS director had “caused significant harm” to the institution and accused him of fostering an autocratic environment.
The committee also opposed attempts to hand over ICCBS, through what they described as a controversial bill, to the likes of Nadeem Punjvani and Aziz Jamal. They demanded that the leadership be limited to a three-year term, similar to other KU departments, to avoid a long-term concentration of power.
At the press conference, Action Committee member Safir Muhammad said the SHC had ruled that the ICCBS statutes must be approved by the KU Senate. He added that between five and six cases involving ICCBS donors are currently pending before the court.
