November 29, 2002	Friday	Ramazan 23, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 28: All the four deans of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) have been found involved in various scams, reliable sources told this reporter.

Sources said over a couple of years, a number of inquiry committees confirmed involvement of the top ranking professors of the varsity in different malpractices, but despite that no action was taken against them owing to the inbuilt loopholes in the judicial procedures of the country.

Dr Tufail Hashmi, ex-dean, faculty of Arabic and Islamic Studies, was suspended for allegedly awarding a Ph.D degree to his son-in-law Shah Mohiuddin Hashmi in just two weeks about one and a half years back, overstepping the “Rules of Business”. An inquiry committee also found him guilty.

Both Dr Hashmi and Shah Mohiuddin are under suspension but despite the passage of one and half years, the case is yet to be decided, as the accused party has moved court against the decision of the inquiry committee, the sources said.

In the second case, Dr Mohammad Rasheed, dean faculty of education, allegedly misused Rs2.1 million in a “photocopies” case.

In sheer violation of the university rules, Mr Rasheed allegedly misused the said amount by getting the varsity books photocopied on substandard paper instead of getting the stuff printed in the varsity’s own press in books form.

An official on condition of anonymity told Dawn that despite the fact that the AIOU had its own printing press and a photocopier, Mr Rasheed gave the order to an outsider photocopier allegedly to pocket his commission.

He said the case was under investigation with the Federal Investigating Agency (FIA) for quite some time but he was continuing with his job. The official further said there was also a case against him for not completing his doctorate and getting promotion through dubious documentation.

Professor Najeeb A Khan, dean faculty of social sciences, was made dean without having requisite experience and qualification. Professor Khan, who was also holding additional charge of dean faculty of Arabic and Islamic Studies, was allegedly found involved in forgery to climb to the present post. A case is under investigation against him in this regard.

Dean faculty of sciences Dr Parveen Liaquat was also facing corruption charges. According to the sources, Dr Parveen in league with library officials allegedly committed financial corruption in the library funds. Her involvement in the library funds scam was confirmed by three subsequent committees.

However, regardless of the hard facts that confirmed her lion’s share in the misused funds, she was let off the hook allegedly owing to her close connections with a big gun. They said, unfortunately, the varsity was being ignored by the federal education ministry.

It is worth mentioning here that the others found involved in the library scandal were convicted and duly handed down punishment.