LAHORE: A Punjab University fact-finding committee has identified misconduct and inefficiency in the affairs of university’s Executive Club by the former chairman Prof Dr Shaukat Ali.

The probe on the complaint of junior clerk Ilyas Moeen Bhatti concluded that prime facie there are sufficient grounds to warrant a regular inquiry.

Prof Ali, however, says that this is a crude case of victimisation as the probe was initiated after he sought information about different irregularities in the university under the Information Act. Since he had retired from the university service more than a year ago, he said, the university could not hold a regular inquiry against him under the PEEDA Act.

A five-member inquiry committee, headed by former registrar Prof Dr Naeem Khan, found nepotism and favouritism besides misuse of premises and resources in the affairs of the club.

The former club chairman is accused of using vehicle at the expense of the club as well as illegal and unauthorized use of undergraduate block for a family function.

Prof Ali said the inquiry had been conducted without even informing him and the inquiry had been conducted by forcing a junior contractual service employee to submit a complaint.

He said the allegations could not be substantiated by documentary evidence. He said that he had used the club’s car on his own expense. He said that vice-chancellor himself was present at his family function at undergraduate block.

He said the club’s income was around Rs2.1 million, when he had taken over the charge that reached up to Rs9.7 million, when he left the charge.

Published in Dawn March 3rd , 2015

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