GILGIT, Sept 5: Differences between the Northern Areas Colleges Academic Staff Association (NACASA) and the Karakuram International University (KIU) over the administrative control of the Postgraduate College Gilgit (PCG) have increased with the appointment of Dr Muhammad Saleem as the principal of the college.

Informed sources said that the Northern Areas education secretary had recently appointed Dr Muhammad Saleem, who joined the KIU as dean faculty of science in May, the principal of the Postgraduate College Gilgit till shifting of the college to a new place.

The association opposed the appointment of Dr Saleem contending that he was an employee of the KIU and was responsible for creating a three-month long row between the KIU and the NACASA, sources said.

It would not accept Dr Saleem - also former principal of the college - as he enjoyed a controversial reputation due to his role in dividing faculty members and holding dual positions at the KIU and the PCG, sources said.

They said that since new admissions to the PCG were conducted by the KIU administration, the PCG staff would take no responsibiltiy for managing classes owing to differences in the admission criteria.

The association demanded that the principal of the college should be chosen amongst senior faculty members of the PCG, sources added.

Members of the NACASA said that classes would be boycotted if Dr Saleem remained the principal.

The KIU sources added the row over the status of the college had recently jeopardized the admission of over 1,000 students.