Peshawar: The Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Faisal Karim Kundi, has returned the Universities Amendment Bill to the Speaker, raising constitutional concerns.
In his written objections, Governor Kundi stated that the bill was forwarded as a money bill under Article 115(5) of the Constitution, along with relevant certificates. However, he argued that the bill does not fall within the ambit of a money bill as outlined in Article 115(1) and called for a review to determine its correct classification.
Key Provisions of the Amendment Bill
Earlier this month, the “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities Amendment Bill 2024,” introduced by Minister for Higher Education Meena Khan, was approved by the provincial assembly.
Under the proposed amendments:
- The Chief Minister, instead of the Governor, will serve as the Chancellor of universities in KP.
- The Chief Minister will appoint Vice Chancellors from a panel of three candidates recommended by the Academic Search Committee.
- The tenure for Vice Chancellors will be set at four years.
- The tenure can be terminated in case of unsatisfactory performance by a Vice Chancellor.
The bill’s provisions have sparked debate, particularly concerning the shift of authority from the Governor to the Chief Minister. Governor Kundi’s objection underscores the need for clarity on the bill’s constitutional validity before it proceeds further.
