LAHORE, Feb 10: The Punjab University Academic Staff Association (PUASA) criticised on Thursday Vice-Chancellor (VC) Dr Mujahid Kamran for alleged favouritism, nepotism, victimisation and misuse of office. A spokesperson for the VC rejected the allegations as baseless.

PUASA President Prof Dr Mahr Saeed Akhtar told a press conference the VC had refused to meet the PUASA executive council as he only favoured a small group of teachers.

Prof Akhtar said that senior varsity teachers had asked him to attempt self-immolation to get the attention of the VC.

According to him, Dr Kamran had extended huge increments (three and eight in one go each) to his cousin Dr Mansoor Sarwar, PU College of Information Technology principal. He alleged that the VC also sanctioned a study leave and Rs9.7 million to PU Law College in charge Shazia Qureshi, who is his wife. The VC, however, refused study leave to Law College’s another lecturer, Khujista Rehan, in a blatant show of discrimination and she had to proceed abroad on her expenses.

Prof Akhtar said the VC had appointed junior teachers in various committees and administrative posts such as hostels’ superintendents, which otherwise should have gone to senior teachers. Instead, he said, the VC had issued a barrage of notices to teachers who were not in his good book.

He said the PUASA had presented him a charter of demands but the VC refused to hold any dialogue with the association executive council. He said the PEEDA Act was never adopted by the university and the University Act 1973 was very effective and needed to be utilised in a proper manner.

Prof Akhtar said that various teachers appointed on a tenure track system were not being given their due salary, medical facility and annual increments.

He alleged acting treasurer Uzma Ikram and additional registrar Dr Aurangzeb Alamgir were behind the accelerated retardation in the university and most of the teachers were not satisfied with their way of working.

The PUASA president said he would soon move court to seek explanation of VC’s ruthless use of emergency powers. He also demanded that the VC ensure Syndicate’s approved one-man-one-post policy.

Prof Akhtar also demanded elections for the vacant seats of Senate, Syndicate and Academic Council, reserved for teachers’ representatives, lying vacant for the past one year.

He warned the PUASA would launch a protest movement, if the VC did not resolve varsity faculty members’ genuine demands.

Reacting to allegations, the PU spokesman said Dr Mansoor was appointed PUCIT principal in 2006 by then vice chancellor Lt Gen Arshad Mehmood (retired) for his years long teaching experiences in a highly-reputed US institution and LUMS. The spokesman clarified that no three increments were awarded to Dr Sarwar.

The spokesman said the administration ensured objectivity and merit but because of some unavoidable circumstances, the varsity sometimes had to give additional charge of certain posts to anyone according to their ability and capacity.

The spokesman clarified though the association had presented its charter of demands twice to the VC office but they decided to meet the VC in the Press. He alleged that the PUASA was protecting criminals and violators in their ranks.

Regarding elections of Syndicate, the spokesman clarified that the elections were delayed on the request of various faculty members. Now, he said, elections for Syndicate seats would be held on March 31.

The spokesman said the PUASA president could not prove corruption charges.

About Tenure Track teachers’ issues, the PU spokesman said PUASA had misguided the media because the VC had recently held a meeting and written a letter to the Higher Education Commission chairman last month.

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