ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain removed the vice-chancellor of Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST), Dr Zafar Iqbal, from his post on Sunday.

The decision was taken after a meeting of the university’s senate held on Saturday recommended the removal because of his alleged involvement in corruption, favouritism, moral turpitude and misuse of authority.

“The president has removed the VC of the university,” a senior official of the presidency told this correspondent on Sunday. “It has been decided that his case will be sent to the National Accountability Bureau and the Federal Investigation Agency.”

He added that the presidency was considering three candidates recommended by the varsity’s senate to fill the vacant post. According to a source at the university, the VC was appointed on Feb 1, 2013 by the Pakistan People’s Party government for a five-year term. He managed to save his job twice in the past by getting stay orders from the Sindh High Court against decisions taken by the university’s senate.

According to the varsity’s rules, the senate has to be summoned twice a year. But Dr Iqbal did not do so for two years. President Hussain took notice of the matter and directed the vice-chancellor to call a senate meeting but the source accused the VC of ignoring the directive.

Meanwhile a source in the National Accountability Bureau said that corruption cases at Urdu university were already being investigated. When contacted, Dr Iqbal said the senate meeting held on August 8 was illegal because it had not been called by him.

He claimed that his case was already in the Supreme Court and, therefore the president could not remove him. “Even the senate of the university which recommended my removal is illegal as it was formed illegally by the president,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2015

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