LAHORE: The Punjab University (PU) administration on Sunday removed the junior faculty members from two top administrative posts after the protest by the Punjab University Academic Staff Association (PUASA).

Provisional Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zakria Zakar had appointed Prof Dr Iqbal Chawla as chairman Hall Council and retired Col Muzaffar as chief security officer to ensure neutrality in approaching the PUASA polls on March 13, claimed the university spokesman.

However, the postings got a backlash from the outgoing body of the PUASA, forcing the administration to take back its decision regarding two key posts.

Earlier, the outgoing body had alleged that Dr Zakar was ‘influencing’ the upcoming polls by siding with its rival groups.

ASA president Javed Sami, who led the Teachers Alliance, in a statement on Sunday accused Dr Zakar of appointing their opponent group members on key posts to influence the polls. He said they were hoping the VC would bring impartiality, transparency, good governance and merit in the university but he had started victimising the senior faculty members by appointing junior faculty members on the important posts.

Quoting examples, he said, Dr Zakar had first removed a senior, Prof Dr Taqi Zahid Butt, from the chairmanship of Town-I and Town-II committee and appointed a junior teacher. He added that an elected member of the Syndicate (who is the head of a political group) was appointed as controller of examinations (CoE) soon after the Syndicate elections. He said the appointment was unethical and it had created conflict of interest as agenda of the Syndicate might include issues of the CoE office and how could syndicate member participate and decide on the issues of his own department.

Mr Sami said that earlier a junior teacher was also given the responsibility of director Planning and Development (P&D) department while later the same person was given the additional responsibility to look after the affairs of chairman Hall Council. He said the assistant professor who was also working as superintendent of a hostel did not fulfill the criteria to become chairman Hall Council while adding the appointment was made after ignoring senior professors, associate professors and even deans of faculties, including deputy chairman Hall Council.

Giving another example, Mr Sami said the provisional VC had also appointed another junior assistant professor as chairperson of the University Club who also belonged to their opponent group and was contesting PUASA elections.

The outgoing president alleged that all the above-mentioned appointments were made to favour their opponents and it had showed the bias of the VC.

He also said Dr Zakria had removed the chief security officer (CSO) of the university and appointed a BPS-14 officer on the critical post.

The outgoing members of ASA demanded Dr Zakar take back all decisions to ensure smooth and peaceful academic environment of the university.

The PU spokesman, however, dispelled the impression that the provisional VC was siding with any political group in PUASA elections, saying that Dr Zakar had made appointments after some of the officers resigned from their posts, including those of chief security officer and controller exams.

He said the post of the P&D director was lying vacant for the last one year and neutral person was appointed on provisional charge.

“All the political groups blamed any and every administration at the time of elections in the varsity,” he said and made it clear that the chief security officer was sacked after he was found guilty of favouring a student organisation in the university.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2018