SARGODHA: Scores of students, teachers and other staff of the University of Sargodha have protested against three ruling party MPs for “freezing accounts of the institution”.

Also, the Higher Education Department (Punjab) is alleged to have held in abeyance all the actions (notifications/orders including the approval of the budget 2014-15 and salaries (pay and allowances) of the varsity.

In March last, three member MPAs Dr Nadia Aziz, Waris Kallu and Ghazanfar Cheena boycotted the meeting of the syndicate which was presided over by the pro-vice chancellor and academics and legislators exchanged hot words and traded allegations.

Later, Vice-Chancellor Dr Akram Chaudhry presided over the meeting and the syndicate approved various projects and confirmed the minutes of the meeting though the parliamentarians continued their boycott.

The MPs continued to ‘malign’ the university and pressured the Punjab government to take action against its administration that, they alleged, was violating the code of conduct while approving various projects. The VC denies the allegations and pledges to continue with his policy of merit.

According to a notification issued by the Higher Education Department (Punjab) “the governor held in abeyance the operation on all the actions/notifications/orders/ including the approval of the budget 2014-15 and salaries (pay and allowances) with immediate effect.” Consequently, the accounts of the university were seized and 2,500 employees including professors are facing stoppage of their salaries.

The protesting academics said the institution could not work peacefully under such circumstances and education of more than 28,000 students pursuing various disciplines could be affected if the accounts were not restored.

Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences Dean Prof Dr Ghulam Yaseen told a press conference on Wednesday that it was necessary to keep the atmosphere peaceful and the HED should immediately take back the orders.

MPA Malik Muhammad Waris Kallu told Dawn that they had nothing to do with any adverse action against the university. He said a committee was inquiry into allegations of corruption he, Dr Nadia Aziz and Ghazanfar Cheena had levelled against the VC and his team. He said the VC had launched a vilification campaign against them.

The MPs as members of the syndicate did ask for fair practices in admissions, establishment of campuses of the university, affiliation of various institutions and recruitment on merit, he said and added that it was unanimously demanded that all the transactions and working should be in the knowledge of all syndicate members.

The VC, he alleged, insulted the members inducted by the government in the syndicate. “He arranged a meeting of the students and teachers of the university by spending an upward of Rs2 million only to malign the PML-N legislators,” alleged the MPA.

He said the PML-N parliamentarians were ready to face consequences if an impartial inquiry was conducted into the allegations of both sides and they were found guilty.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2014