KARACHI: The controversy over issuing of a show-cause notice to a senior surgeon for removal from service by the acting vice chancellor of the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) has touched the grim edges of the ruling corridors. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has agreed with the universities and boards department to send ‘appropriate advice’ to the DUHS acting VC, reminding him what actions the latter could not take in accordance with the court orders, it emerged on Thursday.

Sources in the provincial government said CM Shah signed a summary sent by the secretary of the universities and boards department which recommended to advise the acting VC, Dr Masood Hameed Khan, that “he has no authority to issue a show cause notice to Prof Saeed Quraishy” on the charges of misconduct. The CM asked the chief secretary to take “necessary action” into the matter.

The acting VC issued an order early this month which discussed a show cause notice given to Dr Quraishy in March, which was replied by the recipient in a week, “which was found unsatisfactory”.

In his order, Dr Khan said Dr Quraishy “continuously remained on unauthorised absent [sic] from duty” from time to time due to availing ex-Pakistan leave without prior permission or sanction from the competent authority, “which amounts to be guilty of misconduct and liable for punishment”.

The order has said Prof Quraishy was given the chance for personal hearing before the acting VC to explain his position but “he did not avail the opportunity to be heard in person.”

The acting VC ordered Dr Quraishy to proceed on leave with immediate effect and his case for removal from service was referred to DUHS Syndicate. However, his order said, in the absence of the DUHS syndicate, as per court order, the case was being referred to the chancellor [provincial governor] for “necessary action”.

Citing the DUHS VC’s order in its summary, the secretary universities and boards referred to the Sindh High Court’s order passed in a constitutional petition last year, which gave additional charge VC DUHS to Dr Khan with the instructions that he should perform his routine work and day to day affairs as VC and “will not hold any syndicate meeting”.

“During this period, he shall only perform day to day and routine work without taking any major decisions as directed earlier orders dated 1.12.2015 passed in CP No. D-383 of 2015,” said the court orders.

“Under the given arrangements,” said the summary approved by the CM, “issuing show cause notices to employees for removal from service does not fall within the competence of Prof MAS

The summary also says that the acting VC had no authority to issue the show cause notice to Prof Quraishy “as is evident from the reply submitted by Dr Quraishy that during his posting as MS Civil Hospital Karachi he always obtained ex-Pakistan leave from competent authority, which is chief secretary in this regard”.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2016