LAHORE: Punjab University (PU) Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr Zaffar Moeen Nasar says he will move the court against Punjab Higher Education Minister Raza Ali Gillani for leveling baseless allegations of financial corruption against him.

“I will defend myself against the allegations aimed at tarnishing my reputation,” Dr Nasar told Dawn on Sunday.

He said if the minister had any evidence against him he should present it before the public or the media. “I am not going to answer his allegations at any forum except the court,” he added.

The PU VC alleged that since he took the charge of his post, Mr Gillani had been trying to pressurise him into making recruitments, giving admissions and interfering in other matters. On his refusal to oblige, he said, the minister got annoyed with him.

“The minister had started holding open courts in the university without permission of the chancellor/governor and VC. He was also offended by the sacking of the higher education officials who were working on the campus on honourary basis, spending Rs3m per month,” Dr Nasar added.

Replying to the allegations, Mr Gillani’s spokesman Tauseef Sabih denied allegations against the minister regarding giving admissions to the students and interference in recruitments.

“Whenever any student approaches the minister, he issues orders for redress of his grievances which is not violations of any merit,” he said and added that Mr Gillani was directed by the chancellor to visit five public universities, including the PU, to take steps to improve their rankings. He said the minister had held open courts in the universities after receiving complaints against the VCs on different matters and formed committee to investigate the complaints.

Raza Ali Gillani has written to the chief minister, seeking removal of Dr Nasar, who is serving as interim VC, for committing irregularities and violations of rules in various projects and recruitments.

In his letter, Mr Gilani accused the VC of financial irregularities, illegal appointments and exercise of chancellor’s powers without approval and administrative malpractice.

The tussle between the minister and the VC began after Prof Nasar had accused Mr Gillani, without naming him, of pressurising him to make illegal postings and give admissions against merit.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2017