KARACHI: The Karachi University (KU) syndicate on Monday approved the selection of some 40 candidates for teaching posts, ignoring criticism from some members that some of the appointments were against the rules and a violation of a government notification, sources said.

However, they added, the syndicate meeting, which was presided over by KU vice chancellor Prof Mohammad Qaiser, failed to take any major decision regarding the university’s financial crisis except agreeing to set up a committee to look into financial issues especially leave encashment.

According to the sources, some members opposed the teachers’ appointments on the grounds that they violated the government notification against recruitment and would create problems at some later stage, as the chief minister had decision-making power under the new universities act.

About the case of those faculty members who went abroad to pursue PhD studies under the university’s faculty development programme and haven’t returned yet, it was decided that letters would be sent to the respective high commissions and strict disciplinary action would be taken against them.

Some syndicate members criticised their colleagues who had recently raised their voice while addressing a press conference against the alleged malpractices of the university and called for passing a resolution against them. Their reservations, however, couldn’t be taken up in the heated debate in the syndicate meeting.

The appointment of eight lecturers at the Department of Pharmaceutics was also approved despite concerns expressed by some teachers who said they would submit their note of dissent.

The syndicate turned down a proposal from the National Highway Authority that had showed interest in launching a road safety programme on the campus and sought land and offices for use from the KU administration.

The syndicate also rejected a proposal from a mobile phone company to build a U-lounge with a capacity for 60 students in return for running their promotional activities in the university.

It also didn’t approve the appointment of two Professor Emeritus, award of honorary degree of doctorate to a sitting syndicate member and appointment of Dr Masood Mashkoor, former controller of examination at the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology as professor at the KU Commerce Department and the appointment of three assistant professors at the Department of Physics who did not have a Master’s degree in Applied Physics.

Teachers posted as chairpersons included Nadeem Ahmed Khan in Petroleum Technology, Prof Rafiq Alam in Pharmacology, Dr Zahid Ali in Islamic Learning, Prof Shamim Akhtar in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Dr Shabib-ul-Hasan in Public Administration, Prof S.M. Taha in General History, Dr Nabeel Zuberi in Sociology, Prof Anwar Ali Zaidi in Mathematics and Dr Abdul Wahab Suri in Philosophy.

The syndicate appreciated the students’ tracking system and hoped that it would increase KU resources. The meeting also lauded the services of Sardar Yasin Malik for the university’s welfare.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2015

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