November 23, 2006	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 1, 1427

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FAISALABAD, Nov 22: The Government College University Faisalabad on Wednesday saw a day of fluctuating fortunes.

In a surprise move, outgoing vice-chancellor Dr Asif Iqbal sacked the registrar, Dr Mushtaqul Hassan, a day after his tenure expired. The latter was, however, reinstated on the orders of the governor at the end of the day.

The power tussle continued the whole day through as the outgoing vice-chancellor took the shocking decision which many other senior incumbents disputed and declared illegal.

Sources said Dr Arif Zaidi had been appointed the new VC of the institution and the governor’s secretariat relieved Dr Asif Iqbal on Nov 21. Despite the orders, Dr Asif used his powers even on Wednesday — a day after his official retirement — and issued various orders regarding the release of outstanding payments, new appointments and sacking the registrar. He also chaired the meeting of selection committee and other members of the committee were also present in which the appointments of clerks were discussed.

Sources said the outgoing VC fired registrar Dr Mushtaq by a single stroke of pen on the charges best known to the VC who asked deputy registrar Ayub Latif to look into the matter. When Dr Mushtaq was shown the door, he immediately informed the newly-appointed registrar who was reportedly on leave about the new duties and went home.

It is pertinent to mention that as many as eight registrars have served with Dr Asif Iqbal. They were Akram Bhatti, who has enjoyed the position twice, Chaudhary Mushtaq, Javed Aslam Bajwa, Aslam Chaudhry, Munirul Haq and Dr Mushtaqul Hassan. Most of them were either sacked or had quit the job. However, Chaudhry Mushtaq went into litigation and his case is pending with court.

Being a senior professor of the institution, university dean Dr Shahid Mahboob Rana was the man who could be appointed to look after routine affairs as earlier he did the job in the absence of Dr Asif Iqbal. However, sources said, before relinquishing the charge, the chairperson of chemistry department Dr Mukhtar Khalid was appointed to look after the affairs of the university till arrival of new incumbent.

The governor’s secretariat, sources said, immediately came to help and stop the irregularities being made by Dr Asif Iqbal when the university employees contacted it. They said Dr Asif had to cancel all his orders issued on Nov 22 and he issued a notification the same day.

The notification reads, “All the financial and administrative decisions taken by the undersigned today i.e. Nov 22 should be considered as null and void and shall stand as cancelled and withdrawn accordingly.”

While Dr Mushtaq remained tight-lipped saying noting more than this that “I was sacked and reinstated as orders were declared null and void.”

Several attempts were made to contact with Dr Asif but remained abortive.

Dr Arif Zaidi, is expected to take over the charge on Nov 23 (today) and fresh developments are being prepared to apprise him on his arrival.