ISLAMABAD: A question asked by Member National Assembly (MNA) Maulana Gohar Shah about appointments made in the Bacha Khan University became a matter of embarrassment for him as an official of the university alleged that the Maulana himself had got over a dozen people employed in the university and was pushing the management for accommodating more.

During the meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training at Parliament House on Tuesday, Maulana Gohar of the JUI-F asked about the details of appointments at the university.

He alleged that the university management had hired 50 employees without advertisements or holding interviews of the candidates.

Bacha Khan University official alleges that Maulana Gohar Shah got 13 people appointed in the varsity

“It is unfair to make appointments without following the proper procedure. That is why I had asked for a detailed briefing about the appointments made by the university management. But I have not been provided a complete answer,” he said.

The university’s quality enhancement director, Dr Ikramullah, initially tried to convince the members that the university was authorised to hire staff on the contract of 89 days or as a visiting faculty.

“These appointments are made as a stop-gap arrangement and the contractual employees or visiting faculty members are removed after getting permanent staff. These appointments cannot be declared as illegal because the law has a provision for such appointments,” he said.

However, Maulana Gohar said Dr Ikram was hiding the truth and claimed that he had appointment letters of employees who were hired on lump-sum pays.

At this, Dr Ikram changed his tone and alleged that Maulana Gohar had moved the question in the parliament because he wanted to appoint some people in the university.

“I have a letterhead of Maulana on which he has sent the names of people with direction to appoint them. Maulana has got 13 people appointed in the university in the past and now is again pressuring us to induct more of his people. We have also informed the minister of federal education about the matter,” he said while showing the letter.

Minister Balighur Rehman was present in the meeting but he did not say a word.

However, the chairman of the committee, Dr Amirullah Marwat, said why the vice chancellor or the pro-chancellor of the university had not bothered to attend the meeting. He said a junior officer should not be sent to the committee meetings.

Other members of the committee also said the VC should have attended the meeting. They criticised Dr Ikram for showing the letter of Maulana Gohar during the meeting of the committee.

The committee directed Dr Ikram to ensure that the VC participated in the next meeting.

Dr Ikram later told Dawn that during the tenure of former VC, Maulana Gohar had got 13 people inducted in the Bacha Khan University.

“Now he has again sent a list of seven people for appointing them. We cannot appoint so many people on his directions because political appointees do not want to work. He is just trying to pressure us by using his seat,” he said.

Assistant registrar of the university, Mohammad Daud, who also attended the meeting, told Dawn that it was clearly mentioned in the law that the VC can appoint employees on a temporary basis and even can create seats to meet the requirements.

“Parliamentarians have no right to criticise the university management. If they have any objection, they should change the law of the university which authorises the VC to make appointments,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2017