May 8, 2005	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 28, 1426

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PESHAWAR, May 7: The committee set up to inquire into alleged misappropriation in the funds of girls’ hostel of the Peshawar University almost a month ago has yet to charge sheet alleged culprits. The inquiry committee was set up on March 30, 2005 after the resident warden of Benazir Girls Hostel made a disclosure about misappropriation in the accounts of the hostel. The committee, however, could not even start its work for initial two weeks as one of its members had fallen seriously ill, Sher Bahadur, the registrar of the university told Dawn on Saturday.

The probe committee comprises two professors; Chairman Department of Chemistry Prof Dr Haroonur Rashid and Professor Fazlur Rehamn Sethi of the Physics Department. It was asked to submit its report within seven days to the vice-chancellor of the university.

“But Prof Haroonur Rashid fell critically ill and requested the university authorities to relieve him and appoint someone else in his place”, Mr Bahadur added.

He said Prof Haroonur Rashid was replaced by Prof Dr Muhammad Riaz of the Department of Physics and on his request the committee was given extension in the time fixed for submitting report. Thereafter general investigation into the matter was started and has just been summed up.

“The committee completed preliminary investigations on April 30 and has submitted its report to the vice-chancellor”, said Mr Bahadur.

Ms Farkhanda Afridi, the resident warden of the hostel, in a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club on March 24, had accused the provost and the former resident and assistant wardens of misappropriation in the accounts.

Ms Afridi had also accused the provost of pressurising her and supporting those allegedly responsible for misappropriation of a sum of Rs1,16,096. She had also alleged that a former warden, Ms Shazia Durrani, and an incumbent assistant provost had stolen a carpet from the hostel.

Ms Afridi had alleged that the provost and the two wardens were also involved in the embezzlement of funds of the girls’ hostel. “I informed the provost and the vice-chancellor of the alleged embezzlement and requested them to hold an impartial inquiry into the issue but they did not respond”, she had claimed in the press conference. She, however, had admitted that she had violated the rules by holding a press conference.

“I have taken this step in desperation because the university administration is not taking action on my complaint”, Ms Afridi had told Dawn after the press conference last month.

Mutaz Gul, the vice chancellor, after studying the report, can ask for further investigation and collecting evidence against those who would be charge sheeted. After fulfilling these requirements, legal action may be taken against the guilty, Mr Bahadur added.