LAHORE, July 26: In the absence of its syndicate and senate bodies, the King Edward Medical University can’t hold examinations of its students for at least another six months.

Officials told Dawn on Wednesday that the KEMU was left with no option but to seek extension to its agreement with the Punjab University for holding its examinations after the expiry of the contract this month.

The KEMU administration has already charged fee from the second professional examination students for annual examinations, which are scheduled to be held next month.

The KEMU, which was given a varsity status in January this year, has yet to inform the second professional students about its inability to conduct their exams. They (students) are perturbed over the development and want the institute to inform them about their examination body to remove confusion.

Moreover, the KEMU administration has yet to formally request the PU to extend the agreement. “We have not received any written request for extending the agreement from the KEMU. However, if it applies for extension the PU will have no objection,” PU registrar Prof Dr Naeem Khan told this reporter.

“The PU has not closed its doors for the KEMU, though it is no more a college. It is seeking research collaboration with it as well,” he said.

A KEMU spokesman said a written request would be submitted to the PU in a couple of days for extension of the agreement for another six months. He said it would also ask the PU to provide it some staff of the examination branch’s secrecy department on deputation to develop the KEMU’s examination system.

Answering a question, he said if the KEMU vice-chancellor made certain changes for conducting examinations it could be challenged in court.

Sources said the KEMU administration had forwarded a list of proposed syndicate and senate members to the governor for approval. They said their names would be approved by next month.