BAHAWALPUR: The final selection for Islamia University vice-chancellor slot has been delayed for an indefinite period due to the filing of a writ petition in the Lahore High Court by an applicant for the slot.

The post got vacant in July when the former IUB Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Mukhtar completed his four-year term in the office.

Prof Dr Salim Tariq, who was acting VC also got retired in October, 2014.

Later, Prof Dr Muhammad Afzal Rao was appointed as acting VC who is working till date.

Meanwhile, during the recruitment process, the search committee picked Prof Dr Muhammad Ali Shah of Multan for the post of VC. His notification by the Punjab government was awaited when the governor/chancellor held up his posting allegedly on political pressure for appointment of a local university teacher as VC.

Later, a retired dean, Muhammad Shahid Naveed, of IUB challenged the reconstitution of search committee in the LHC with a pray to suspend the recommendations of the committee till the final disposal of the case by the LHC, which has sought para-wise comments from the nine respondents and fixed Jan 15, 2015, for the next hearing.

SHUTDOWN: There will be a complete business shutdown in the city on Wednesday (today) to mourn the tragic deaths of over a hundred schoolchildren in Peshawar terrorist attack on a school.

It was announced by Muthahidda Anjuman-i-Tajran President Hafiz Muhammad Younus on Tuesday.

He said the Peshawar killings were a national tragedy and all shopkeepers would observe a complete shutdown to join the mourning.

Punjab Cooperatives Minister Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar in his statement also condemned the barbaric act.

PROTEST: The Bahawalpur Union of Journalists (Barna Group) on Tuesday organised a rally and a sit-in to condemn the attacks of PTI activists on media persons in Lahore on Monday.

BUJ President Majeed Gill, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists President Amin Abbasi and others participated in the protest and addressed the protesters.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2014