ISLAMABAD, Sept 28: The accused in the Allama Iqbal Open University’s (AIOU) library scam have challenged the findings of the inquiry committee, whereby it had confirmed the financial mismanagement by the library officials.

In a petition filed with the Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi Bench, the appellants have appealed to the court to set aside the charge sheets issued by the varsity administration on the recommendations of the inquiry committee, and constitute another body to probe the matter.

The petitioners — librarian Zamurat Mehmood, assistant librarian Jan Mohammad Charan and superintendent Mohammad Arif — have taken the stand that the inquiry committee, without listening to their viewpoint, has decided to punish them.

They claimed that no witnesses had been recorded in their presence and many irregularities were committed during the inquiry proceedings.

The write petition, filed through advocate Shoib Shaheen, also contested the composition of the inquiry committee. It contended that one of the committee members, Ishtiaq Ahmed, was also a complainant against the accused, therefore, the inquiry committee’s recommendations were unfounded and baseless.

“The petitioners have also been discriminated because Dr Parveen Liaquat, dean, faculty of sciences, was also found involved in the scam by the same inquiry committee, but it was stated that the inquiry report regarding her involvement in the mismanagement of the library funds would be submitted later on,” the petition said.

It said the inquiry report provided to the petitioners was incomplete and some pages were missing. It added that the show- cause notice contained allegations of misconduct, inefficiency, corruption and malpractice against the petitioners, whereas, in the inquiry report, no such charges had been mentioned.

It may be noted here that the executive council of the varsity, in its meeting on September 26, was to finally decide on the punishments suggested by the inquiry committee, but then deferred the decision for some time without giving any reason.

A source close to the varsity administration told this reporter that the varsity wanted to save Dr Parveen at the cost of the library officials, but the latter moved the court, therefore the final decision had been postponed.

Earlier, the inquiry committee, confirming the involvement of the accused in the embezzlement of library funds, had recommended to demote Zumurat Mehmood from grade 19 to 18 and Jan Mohammad Charan, from grade 17 to 16.

Similarly, Mr Arif has been put up for forced retirement.

The court has asked para-wise comment from the AIOU administration (respondent) in response to the writ petition.