FAISALABAD, Nov 11: The Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF) has sacked two directors and a senior audit officer on corruption charges, says a notification issued on Tuesday.

The administration also sealed the offices of all the sacked officials to prevent any proliferation of records.

Following embezzlement charges levelled by a citizen, identified as Nadeem, against finance director Ghulam Safdar Mian, projects and campus development director Lt Col Muhammad Latif (retired) and senior audit officer Muhammad Yaqoob, the GCUF vice-chancellor formed a four-member inquiry committee on Nov 7.

The committee consisting of Dr A.M. Khalid, Dr Mudassar Ahmed, Dr Haq Nawaz and Education EDO Dr Muhammad Arshad, who is ex-officio member of the university syndicate, found the officials guilty of millions of rupees embezzlement and recommended their terminations.

Vice-chancellor Dr Arif Ali Zaidi heard all the three officials and later sacked them.

Latif had joined the institution in Feb 2007, Safdar in July and Yaqoob in Sept 2007 on special pay packages.

Administrative services director Brig Muhammad Abass (retired) has been given the additional charge of projects and campus development director and EDO Dr Arshad has been given the charge of finance director.

Sources said that Latif requested the VC to permit him to tender his resignation before termination. The VC first agreed, but later backed out when the management asked the sacked official to return the monthly salary he had drawn a couple of days ago.

There were reports that Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) had arrested the sacked officials, however the ACE officials rejected any such move. They, however, confirmed that an inquiry against the sacked officials was underway.

Meanwhile, teachers and students demonstrated on Tuesday to express their solidarity with the vice-chancellor and to persuade him to recall his decision to resign. Dr Zaidi has sent his resignation to the Punjab governor/chancellor expressing his inability to continue his services because of personal problems.

Teachers and students of all disciplines gathered outside vice-chancellor’s office and chanted slogans in his favour.

Students have threatened to launch a protest for an indefinite period of time to persuade the vice-chancellor to review his decision. Similarly, the Academic Staff Association (ASA) has announced that all faculty members would tender their resignations jointly if the chancellor accepted Dr Zaidi’s resignation.

Addressing a meeting, ASA president Dr Mudassar and others said there would be no office or class work until the government announced the rejection of VC’s resignation. They also paid tribute to Dr Zaidi for rendering excellent services for the institution.