Brother of PM’s aide appointed AIOU VC

E-Paper | March 12, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Even as the ruling party is under fire for their ‘nepotistic’ style of governance, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has picked the younger brother of his adviser on national affairs to head the leading distance-learning university of the country.

President Mamnoon Hussain, on the advice of the prime minister, on Thursday appointed Professor Dr Shahid Siddiqui, the younger brother of Irfan Siddiqui, as Vice Chancellor of the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU).

In addition, the president also appointed Professor Javed Ashraf as the VC of the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) and Professor Dr Masoom Yasinzai as the Rector of the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI).

Speaking to Dawn, Irfan Siddiqui said his brother was selected purely on merit. “He is a competent person and was selected on merit, not because he is my brother,” he added.

The prime minister selected the three educationists from a list of nine (three against each post) sent to him by a search committee headed by Education Minister Mohammad Balighur Rehman.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2014

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Sunny

Oct 03, 2014 07:22am

What a pathetic decision at absolutly wrong time. Mr. PM not learned and will never learn.

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Oct 03, 2014 07:41am

No different form KP where half of the Chief Ministers relative are in parliament or key positions on merit apparently.

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Faisal Bajwa

Oct 03, 2014 07:59am

Why can't our universities elect their own governing bodies. It would not only make the universities more competitive but will also address the concerns of faculty, staff and students.

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Iqbal Hadi Zaidi

Oct 03, 2014 08:03am

PM Nawaz should have avoided such an appointment it at least at this point of time but he did not care and gifted the prestigious post to the brother of his advisor. I think in Naya Pakistan he will be removed for sure. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi

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Oct 03, 2014 09:48am

No offence to critiques, Dr. Shahid Siddiqui is well deserved scholar for this position he holds lifelong record in the field of educational change and improvement. Nothing related to politics; he is well published scholar recent monograph published by the Oxford University Press. Very timely and wise decision to select the brightest and best!

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One Nation

Oct 03, 2014 10:01am

Badshahat at its best!

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Waseem

Oct 03, 2014 10:13am

Dear Reporter: Merely because the appointee is brother of some one in the govt. would not make this an unsound decision. This is not a responsible journalism. You should have shown us the other three candidates whose names were proposed by the research committee and then argued that the others were more meritorious of the appointment if you had a case at hand. Dr. Siddiqui has been an eminent professor and prima facie this doesn't seem to be inappropriate selection.

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Zoab Khan

Oct 03, 2014 10:27am

Monarchy at its best.

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Abdullah

Oct 03, 2014 10:29am

wow, becoming a VC in Pakistan in so easy

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Zaheer

Oct 03, 2014 10:52am

@NK : Obviously they can't pick a guy off the street to head an institution. He must have right credentials that were required. However, we do not know the credentials of other applicants who were in the run for this post and not selected, at least of those other two finalists.

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M Rafique

Oct 03, 2014 11:02am

Irfan Siddiqui himself is a very competent man thats why he is aide of NS. along with other competent advisers/aides, so is his brother

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chamari

Oct 03, 2014 11:08am

Even IT companies hire the same way, better pick someone you know than a new person , Nawaz is best CEO Pakistan can have and will lead the country to high profit.

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M. Saeed Awan

Oct 03, 2014 11:12am

May be he qualifies for this post. If under merit then its more than crime. Now no nepotism please

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Tariq Rashid

Oct 03, 2014 11:12am

If he qualifies the criteria then there should be some kind of moderation in the news heading itself, it is unfair with the new VC to be politicized.......

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Zain ul Abideen Sohail

Oct 03, 2014 11:12am

@hj Can you please name the Half of the family?

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saad saeed

Oct 03, 2014 11:35am

@hj Names please?

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ABC

Oct 03, 2014 11:41am

If you are with me, I am for you, but don`t talk of merit etc, please please

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Rizwan

Oct 03, 2014 11:42am

its seems nepotistic but, it might be on merit. is it always sure that two brothers can not be selected on merit at time ? cant they be deserving at a time ? everybody is not like Shareefs ;)

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ABi

Oct 03, 2014 11:57am

Every one who is criticizing Dr Shahid Siddiqui . Kindly read his profile . He is really a honorable man with services toward educations.

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Pakistani-American

Oct 03, 2014 11:59am

@Faisal Bajwa Central govt. stop interfere in univ. bad practice. The univ. should advertise . form a committee to find the VC. as done in other developed countries. IT will have less burden on PM - less involvement of govt. more freedom in education. Next PM try this . you govt will be much better off.

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Pakistani-American

Oct 03, 2014 12:19pm

@NK Perhaps you right. But it is time to adopt new education policy for appointments; All univ. do their own choice of VC.. form committees ; select from advertisements - merits base. Why in the world, PM get involved with such petty appointments - get involved in such circus . My mind can not comprehend it. Even as you said: it has tarnished the PM n ruin the reputation of a scholar.

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salman

Oct 03, 2014 12:26pm

Yaahh! Democracy is saved

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Shakil Khan

Oct 03, 2014 01:11pm

Now PM is down to select VCs of Universities? This will happen when Saja BA is selecting PhD doctors for the slot! How can a BA pass PM know about research and Universities? Universities and their board should elect VC of own choice! PM or Presidents are patrons not administration positions!

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Khanm

Oct 03, 2014 01:25pm

@Sunny He is absolutely sure that nothing will happen. Nothing ever has n nothing ever will

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Khanm

Oct 03, 2014 01:26pm

@Faisal Bajwa this happens In civilized n true democratic countries

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Khanm

Oct 03, 2014 01:32pm

@Iqbal Hadi Zaidi with less than two percent of Pakistan population is on the movement of nia Pakistan. I seriously doubt it. The masses have to be mobilized

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Khanm

Oct 03, 2014 01:36pm

@NK may he may he is not. The question why there is no selection committee no selection board. What Nawaz Sharif has to do with education.

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nafees

Oct 03, 2014 02:20pm

"Nawaz is best CEO Pakistan can have and will lead the country to high profit." for himself and family.

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Iqbal Hadi Zaidi

Oct 03, 2014 02:40pm

Only merit will be counted in Naya Pakistan where nothing of the sort will happen I strongly believe. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi

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Umair Ansari

Oct 03, 2014 02:50pm

Personification of nepotism!!!!

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Majid

Oct 03, 2014 03:00pm

This appointment is not based on merit at all and the gentleman chosen does not deserve it. In Pakistan it's matters who you know more than who you are and how padsionate you are for your motherland. No wonder the writing on the wall is only Go Nawaz Go. I m not a PTI supporter but I love Pakistan to the core and wanna see the institutions to strengthen. May Allah bless Pakistan and bring the right people at the right positions. With love and dua, Majid Qayyum, Surrey . UK

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Ali Akbar

Oct 03, 2014 03:20pm

I've studied from his brother Dr. Shahid Siddiqui. He's competent enough to be the VC and is highly regarded in all academic circles. Despite being a strong critic of PML-N I have no doubt that he deserves this post to the fullest

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Anarchist

Oct 03, 2014 03:27pm

@chamari 'Nawaz is best CEO Pakistan can have and will lead the country to high profit'. Politics aside, this reflects the mindset of PML-N. Well, Pakistan is not a company that you can turn into a profitable enterprise. Running a company and a country are rather different tasks. Also, has SS led Punjab to 'high profit' in the last 6 years he has been in charge of the province?

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SUB

Oct 03, 2014 03:38pm

Dear A Reporter, it would have been nicer had U also mentioned credentials of Mr. Siddique & the two runner ups so some of us reader could make a comparison instead of jumping to conclusions of nepotism or a selection par merit.

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muhammad farhad niaz

Oct 03, 2014 03:57pm

surprised to see this, Irfan siddique has been always against favourtisam and now he is being also obliged.kya yeh khula tazad nahi

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Abbas

Oct 03, 2014 04:21pm

Just being the brother of any person who is at the helm of affair does not disqualify or make ineligible for any higher slot. The academic and processional profile must be given ultimate priority. If the person under debate does not meet the criteria and not have the required competence,expertise and qualification then his appointment must be questioned, criticized and condemned. Will we justify and substantiate our criticism with arguments, logic and reasoning.

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Shakil Khan

Oct 03, 2014 04:34pm

Those justifying Irfan Siddiuqi brothers appointment! Please first justify Irfan Siddiqui's own appointment equal to a Minister. His own selection is mere writing columns to praise Nawaz Sharif, nothing else! Once you start nepotism, there is no end. There is nothing democratic or merit about Sharifs. They choose and select at personal will!

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Ravian

Oct 03, 2014 04:36pm

@Abdullah How come, it is easy? It needs to be a relative of a member of "nauratans" of the mughl-e-azam.

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nawaz sharif

Oct 03, 2014 04:41pm

"I would only say to nawaz sharif for his best performance. "Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr".

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Qamar

Oct 03, 2014 05:22pm

Mr. Irfan Siddiqui, What did your 'meritorious' brother do when you were not an adviser to the PM?, and what are his past achievements?

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dil

Oct 03, 2014 05:33pm

@nafees Very Well said

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dil

Oct 03, 2014 05:37pm

Simply Pathetic Decisions . Maturity and wisdom does not come with age ,money and position. If I was in PM boots I would have never taken this decision .Let alone the VC is reputed in education circle but the fact is he is the brother of Advisor . How can U satisfy the countrymen. Uffffffffffff unbelievable .

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Amar

Oct 03, 2014 05:56pm

@hj name and shame dude. don't leave a half-baked comment only to defend the defenseless.

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Oct 03, 2014 06:14pm

@SUB : very well said but the media will not do such thing because in this way they cannot sell their story and make money.

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akhtar

Oct 03, 2014 07:31pm

It is highly unfortunate that Dr. Shahid Siddiqui is being tarnished by association. People writing negative comments should not assume that Dr. Siddiqui is not qualified for the post of VC. Please do research and find DR. Siddiqui's contribution as an academician. But in Pakistan everyone is incompetent if he /she is in any way associated with ruling parties. These attitudes do not speak highly of the nation's mental health.

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ishtiaq nasim

Oct 03, 2014 07:37pm

@Sunny: Purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with open one For a very,very large majority including the PM this hasn't happened in this country. Opposite has happened. Empty minds were and are being first filled with you know well with what and then sewn shut. Sad,very sad.

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islamabadian

Oct 03, 2014 08:13pm

@Sunny any of you know or can define the Merit for this position ??? if Governor of Province can be the Chancellor of university then wots wrong in this ?? GO IK GO

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masood

Oct 03, 2014 08:46pm

He, Mr Shaif shall never learn, because he is not a learned person. He is doing same as he did n 1997-1999.

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irfan

Oct 03, 2014 09:15pm

Allah jis ko gharat karna chahta hai uski agal salb kar laeta hai.

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Ghani K

Oct 03, 2014 09:19pm

I made my brother, Shahbaz CM of Punjab purely on merit , not that he is my brother.

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ARahim

Oct 03, 2014 09:30pm

Kudos! And then they say the nation has woken up.

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Abdul Rahman Khan

Oct 03, 2014 09:48pm

@One Nation - you mean.... at its worst. Sharif family hasn't changed nor it will ever.

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Fatima

Oct 03, 2014 10:26pm

Very disappointing decision. Dirty politics like this has destroyed the very core of our society where only people with connection and illegal means can get good positions. Thank you for bringing this to light in a fair manner Dawn

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Shuaib Bhat

Oct 03, 2014 10:41pm

Wait so appointing a Vice Chancellor is nepotism? Mostly when a guy is successful his brothers are too. Does not mean nepotism.

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Parvez

Oct 03, 2014 10:46pm

If its on merit......then its OK.

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Oct 03, 2014 11:54pm

r Siddiqui worked in prestigious universities such as the Aga Khan University (AKU), Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), GIK Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIKI) and Lahore School of Economics (LSE) on academic and administrative positions. He was also associated with AIOU for 13 years that enabled him to fully acquaint himself with the philosophy, structure, product, clientele, and dynamics of distance education.

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Oct 03, 2014 11:56pm

Dr Siddiqui has a strong track record of research publications and has published extensively in national and international journals. His published books include, Rethinking Educational in Pakistan: Perceptions, Practices, and Possibilities (2007,2010); Adhe Adhoore Khawab- An Urdu Novel (2010), Education, Inequalities, and Freedom: A Sociopolitical Critique (2012), and Language, Gender, and Power: Politics of Representation and Hegemony in South, published by OUP in October, 2013.

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Oct 04, 2014 01:24am

A person who gave all his skills and tallent to pakistan is criticized on this selection because he is brother of a person working with the gov not fair I believe....

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Abdul Karim

Oct 04, 2014 01:32am

No disregard to Professor Dr Shahid Siddiqui for his capabilities or achievements but I think he should not have applied for such job while his brother is a serving adviser to a sitting Prime Minister (appointing authority).

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Oct 04, 2014 02:50am

Dear Readers! I recommend everyone to read Dr Shahid Siddiqui's interview in DAWN published on 15-Nov-2009.

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white noise

Oct 04, 2014 07:37am

politics is a business and in business you only profit those who are your rishtaydaar...

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SYED HASSAN HASEEB

Oct 04, 2014 07:56am

in a country where peon to p/minister is not on merit . why merit is being brought in appointments universities are running that is all .

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farrukh

Oct 04, 2014 06:35pm

I am absolutely baffled that NS and party keep doing things that only create ill-will against them. They don't use basic common sense that this will be seen as nepotism. My Allah guide our leaders.

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shar

Oct 06, 2014 12:13am

@Waseem prima facie is a legal summary ...what on earth are you waffling on about

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WEM

Oct 06, 2014 03:17am

Yes every appointment Noora League makes is always on merit. Trust me.

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