THE Sindh government established the Sufi University in Bhitshah, Matiari, in 2012. The purpose of this was to eradicate extremism and spread the theme of Sufism through the message of Sufi poets of Sindh.

Initially, rather a full-fledged university, the authorities started it as a campus of the Sindh University, Jamshoro, and appointed Dr Aslam Pervez Memon co-ordinator/Pro-vice Chancellor, a professor of political science.

Later, the Sindh government announced the post of its first VC in September 2015 so that the university may be run as a full-fledged institutuion.

Interviews for the the VC’s appointment were held on Dec12 last, wherein 13 shortlisted candidates appeared. Among those, except Dr Kamal Jamro (a renowned Sufi Scholar and Chairman of the Department of Sindhi, Federal Urdu University), none of the candidates had any contribution or experience of teaching and research on Sufism. Their subjects of specialisation were Zoology, Mass communication, Computer Science, Education, Political Science, Commerce, Islamiat, etc.

The Sufi University is an institution which can only be run by a Sufi scholar/academician, such as predefined rules for the appointment of a VC for any specific/particular university, offering specialised education.

A medical universitiy is run by only a medical expert and an engineering university by an expert engineer. Similarly, an expert in education cannot be a teacher, dean and VC of a law university.

On April 11 last the VC’s appointment was made in favour of Dr Parveen Munshi without considering the required merit. My understanding is that she has never taught or done research on Sufi poets or Sufism. How does one expect someone to plan or manage a Sufi University when one cannot even read the poetry of Sufis in the language it is written ?

This seems that some elements in the government do not intend to run this university in a proper manner.

Abdul Hafeez

Karachi

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2016