KARACHI: Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori has returned the Sindh Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (Second Amendment) Bill 2025 to the provincial assembly, objecting to a clause that seeks to reduce the seniority of board chairpersons.
The bill had proposed altering sub-clause (1) of section 15, replacing the current requirement of BPS-20/21 officers with the lower grade of BS-19/20.
Tessori rejected the change, insisting that the posts heading education boards must remain at the higher scale to ensure experienced administrators lead these institutions.
Exercising his powers under Article 116(2)(b) of the Constitution, the governor declined to assent and formally sent the draft legislation back for reconsideration.
The proposed amendment is part of wider restructuring of Sindh’s education boards introduced earlier this year, where the government moved to centralise oversight and give the provincial cabinet greater say in appointments. Critics argue the change would dilute board autonomy and weaken standards, while the provincial government has maintained it is intended to streamline governance.
The bill has also become a political flashpoint. A constitutional petition has been filed challenging the governor’s conduct, alleging that his remarks on provincial matters amount to political partisanship inconsistent with his constitutional role.
For now, the legislation cannot take effect unless it is passed again by the assembly, either with or without the governor’s suggested revisions.
