The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notices to the Sindh chief secretary and other officials over the delay in holding student union elections at the University of Karachi (KU).
A two-member constitutional bench, headed by Justice Riazat Ali Sahar, heard the petition on Friday and directed the university’s registrar to appear in person on November 12.
The petition was filed by Ali Sher Muhammad Haris and other law students, who challenged the university’s failure to implement the Sindh Students Union Act, enacted nearly four years ago.
During the hearing, petitioners’ lawyer Advocate Usman Farooq argued that the law requires educational institutions across Sindh to establish student unions and develop regulations for holding elections.
He pointed out that the University of Karachi Act, 1972, also provides for student unions, but KU has yet to introduce election procedures or make arrangements for conducting elections.
The court was informed that the Universities and Boards Department had prepared draft rules and shared them with universities, including KU, in 2024. However, the rules have not been finalized or officially notified.
The lawyer argued that the prolonged delay has deprived students of their right to form unions and violated their constitutional rights to freedom of assembly, association, and expression.
The petitioners requested the court to direct the authorities to finalize the Sindh Students Union Rules, submit them to the provincial cabinet within 30 days, and issue an official notification.
They also sought directions for KU to establish an election commission, finalize election procedures, and arrange student union elections.
Following the preliminary hearing, the SHC directed the respondents and the advocate general of Sindh to submit their comments. The university’s registrar was ordered to appear at the next hearing on November 12.
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