PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan returned the summary by the provincial government seeking removal of Prof Rasul Jan, the vice-chancellor of University of Peshawar, in a case involving PTI MNA Murad Saeed, a senior government official confirmed to Dawn.

The official said that Governor Mahtab, who is also the chancellor of University of Peshawar, returned the summary to the government, asking it to reconsider its recommendation.

“Sardar Mahtab has returned the summary to the provincial government citing contradictory comments filed by the two-member committee, suggesting that its recommendation for the removal of the vice-chancellor needs to be reconsidered,” the official said, requesting he not be named.

Asks provincial govt to reconsider its recommendations

He said that it was inappropriate to appoint a low level committee comprising two additional secretaries of the law and higher education departments to hold inquiry against a vice-chancellor of a university.

Also, said the official, the comments submitted by the two members contradicted each other, while the additional law secretary supported the contentions of the vice-chancellor and held the PTI MNA, Murad Saeed, responsible for misconduct and recommended action against him. The official from the higher education department held Mr Rasul Jan responsible and recommended action against him.

The provincial government, however, instead of taking a balanced approach, recommended action against the vice-chancellor based on the recommendation of the member of the higher education. Governor Mahtab, said the official, held the view that the comments filed by the higher education department official lacked substance.

The PTI MNA from Swat has been in the spotlight after it was alleged that he, in collusion with some officials of the University of Peshawar, had attempted to appear in some papers to obtain a degree in environmental sciences.

The comments submitted by the law department official noted that the entire process was illegal and found that not only this amounted to misconduct and liable for action but also declared Murad Saeed as a failed student.

The PTI poster-boy, however, claimed that he had passed the examination and that the vice-chancellor was deliberately attempting to deny him the degree. The inquiry committee member, however, questioned as to why did Mr Murad Saeed attempted to appear in the papers, if he had, as he claimed, passed those papers.

The official said that the provincial government now had the option of constituting another high level committee, reconsider the report of the enquiry committee or file fresh comments.

The governor may return the summary again, or if he deems it, can summon the vice-chancellor for a personal hearing or send the case to the university syndicate to consider Mr Rasul Jan’s removal.

Public sector universities have already expressed its strong reservations over attempts by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to remove Mr Rasul Jan, with some accusing it of interfering in their affairs.

Also read: PTI MNA in trouble over make-up examination

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2015

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