KU's law admissions policy sparks controversy

A dispute over who gets a seat - and on what terms - has erupted at the University of Karachi ahead of the 2027 admissions, with the School of Law caught at the centre of a controversy over the "K" or Karachi category and a proposed student-transfer policy. The Dean of the Faculty of Law, Barrister Sarfraz Maitlo, has obtained approval from the Board of Studies and Board of Faculty for allowing students of affiliated colleges to transfer to the university. The matter has reportedly been forwarded to Registrar Dr Imran Ahmed for placement before the Academic Council for final approval. At the same time, the dean has announced that the "K" or Karachi category, which has been followed for admissions at KU for years and was introduced for the law department two years ago, will no longer apply to the School of Law. However, no approval of the Academic Council regarding the abolition of the category has so far surfaced, making the issue contentious. When contacted by The Express Tribune over a social media post attributed to him announcing the abolition of the "K" category in the law department, Maitlo confirmed that he had issued the post. He said KU's Academic Council had already done away with the "K" category and that the decision had been reflected in the prospectus for the upcoming academic session on page 157. According to Maitlo, the category was not a law but merely a guideline. When asked why the matter did not appear on the Academic Council's agenda, he said the category had to be approved by the council every year. Since the matter had not been placed on this year's agenda, he argued, it should be considered discontinued, with the prospectus clarifying the position.