By Saleem Mubarak
LAHORE—The proposed induction of three provincial assembly members into each university has struck a nerve in academic circles of the province, sparking strong backlash from academia.
The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) has raised the alarm, warning that this move could open a can of worms by threatening the autonomy, integrity, financial stability, and intellectual freedom of universities, turning them into political battlegrounds.
Dr. Muhammad Islam, President of FAPUASA, Punjab Chapter, talking to GL News said that higher education is a specialized field where only seasoned educational experts and researchers can truly hit the nail on the head.
He emphasized that universities deliberate over complex matters like research and academic policy in their syndicates, and bringing parliamentarians into this mix is like putting square pegs in round holes.
Besides, he said that their induction is a direct blow to institutional autonomy, as they typically lack the academic background needed for technical and high-level discussions.
Resistance Against MPAs in University Governance
He said that FAPUASA has drawn up a plan to write to those at the helm of affairs and reach out to lawmakers in hopes of turning the tide against this controversial decision.
He warned that this move could open floodgates to political interference in university affairs, ultimately chipping away at their independence.
Reflecting on past experiences, he said that induction of MPAs would give the government a free hand to subvert academic decisions– a pattern already witnessed, as previous political involvement has added little to the table.
He stressed that university teachers have a strong apprehension that this move will open the door to party politics and personal agendas in academic decision-making, muddying the waters of institutional neutrality.
“Currently, university syndicates already include government-nominated members, bureaucrats from the Finance and Higher Education Departments, and HEC representatives. With so many cooks in the kitchen, the induction of MPAs would only stifle the academic environment of the universities,” he remarked.
He urged the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission Punjab, Dr. Iqrar Ahmed, to play a pivotal role in reversing the proposal.
Dr. Islam lamented that the government had made this decision behind closed doors, without consulting a single stakeholder.
Minister’s Assurances Now Seen as Hollow Promises
He recalled that before the Punjab budget, a meeting was held with Punjab’s Minister for Higher Education, Rana Sikandar Hayat, where the rumour about the induction of MPAs into university syndicates was discussed.
“The minister had given his word that no such move would be made, citing that international norms do not support it. However, the promise turned out to be an empty one,” he claimed.
He emphasized that across the globe, higher education governance rarely makes room for ministers or legislators, aside from perhaps a token representative.
Academic Freedom Seen as Key to University Excellence
He stressed that the success of higher education institutions hinges on academic freedom–without it, excellence remains a distant dream. This proposed decision for Punjab’s education system is widely seen as counterproductive to this principle, he explained.
The FUPASA Punjab President further warned that beyond just financial control, the deeper fear is an attempt to strike at the heart of the university system–its power to shape minds, culture, and society.
With multiple MPAs potentially sitting in university syndicates, he said, “academics fear they will be reduced to mere yes-men, losing their ability to independently contribute to intellectual discourse and decision-making.”