LAHORE, Aug 12: Punjab University vice-chancellor Arshad Mahmood, whose term in the office is due to expire in the first week of next month, is stated to have stepped up efforts to get an extension as various groups of teachers have begun lobbying for the posting of an academic.

Arshad Mahmood has reportedly approached both the chief minister and governor, who is also the chancellor of the university, several times for seeking an extension in his term. Besides this, he is also said to be employing his political and military connections for the same.

On the other hand, the Tanzeem-i-Isatiza (Teachers Organization) is said to be lobbying for Oriental College dean Dr Akram Chaudhry for the office of vice-chancellor.

The Teachers’ Alliance, comprising the Academic Forum and the Teachers Front, has also fielded two senior professors for the slot.

The Tanzeem-i-Isatiza has the support of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and some of its leaders and MPAs are building pressure on the chief minister to advise the chancellor for the appointment of their ‘man’. Though the Islami Jamiat Tulaba is bound to support every move of the Tanzeem-i-Isatiza, it has apprehensions that Dr Chaudhry would not be cooperative with the organization after assuming the office because he had never proved loyal to the Jamiat during his tenure as chairman of the Hall Council.

Physical Instructions director Imtiaz Cheema who was considered a strong candidate for the slot because of his close association with the chief minister is “no more in the race as his name has been dropped on the basis of his unsatisfactory past record.”

Former PU physics professor Mujahid Kamran and a former lieutenant-general are also stated to be in the run for the coveted office.

Meanwhile, all university teachers are united on one point that the next vice-chancellor must not be a retired army general. They have already communicated their concern to the chief minister and the chancellor.

Vice-chancellor Arshad Mahmood is said to be conveying the achievements in his three-year in the office to the governor and chief minister, during a campaign to win the extension.

The achievements include the establishment of new departments and colleges like College of Information and Technology, College of Banking and Finance, Institute of Environment Sciences, Earth Quake Centre, Centre for Coal Technology and Potato Seed Centre.

The launch of BA and BSC (honours) programmes in over 13 departments is a credit to the VC. The university income has also increased in the tenure of Arshad Mahmood largely due to the introduction of self-finance programmes in various departments.

On the contrary, various teachers’ groups, however, are not happy on certain moves of the VC. They say the VC has issued a number of anticipatory orders which is a record in university’s history. They say the research programmes have largely been ignored during his period as a university is known for its research work.

A PUCIT financial scandal of Rs4.8 million surfaced during his period but the embezzled amount has yet to be recovered from its main accused.

The teachers also claim that the VC has created a privileged class of teachers by awarding them lucrative posts who remain supportive of his every ‘good and bad’ move.

They say that Arshad Mahmood has preferred army officials in administration as registrar, additional controller examinations, director coordination, project director and one in the land implementation committee are retired army officers. He also hired about 60 retired army men as security guards.

The teachers say that over 60 lecturers have been appointed on contract without fulfilling legal criteria. A female lecturer who was appointed on contract in the Centre for Higher Energy Physics (CHEP) was terminated on the orders of the chancellor when he was informed that her appointment was illegal.

When contacted, PU Academic Staff Association president Iftikhar Balouch said that university teachers would be pleased if a man from their community was appointed as VC. He said in case a new person was appointed as VC he must not be ‘politically motivated but a man of principles and also had credentials for research. He said the university teachers would welcome the appointment of non-military man as VC.

It may, however, be mentioned that university teachers boycotted the classes on the appointment of army man (Arshad Mahmood) for one month.

Sources say that chances of the extension of VC Arshad Mahmood are very remote and at the same time none of a candidate from the university will be picked up as VC either.