LAHORE: The Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) has started scrutiny of 128 applications it received for the posts of vice chancellors of the Punjab University (PU) and University of Home Economics Lahore.

Of these, 102 applications have been received for the PU while 26 people have applied for the University of Home Economics.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar had ordered the removal of PU VC Zakaria Zakar last month during a hearing of a case pertaining to the Punjab government’s takeover of 80 kanals of the university’s land. Dr Zakar was appointed as PU’s provisional VC by the government in January this year after Zaffar Mueen Nasar resigned, citing ‘unavoidable circumstances’. Dr Nasar had opposed the provincial government’s demand to hand over the university’s land to a religious party for constructing a seminary.

The CJP had also ordered the authorities to appoint a permanent VC of the PU within six weeks. However, the Punjab Higher Education Department (PHED) had appointed Dr Nasira Jabeen as provisional VC of the university.

102 have applied for PU, 26 for Home Economics University

After the orders of the CJP to appoint a permanent VC, the PHEC had advertised the post and sought applications for hiring VCs in public sector universities, including the PU and University of Home Economics.

Those who have applied for the PU’s post include the incumbent Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nasira Jabeen as well as former Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zakria Zakar.

The commission began the shortlisting process of the applications on Monday.

The PHEC has also made a change to the composition of the search committee for the University of Home Economics where former Kinnaird College Principal Mira Phailbus, the convener of the committee, would be replaced. The PHEC has proposed the names of three experts, namely Prof Dr Najama Najam, Prof Dr Shahida Hasnain and Prof Dr Munawar S Mirza, to replace Ms Phailbus and sent a letter to the PHED secretary in this regard. The letter said: “The aforementioned panel is furnished, after seeking their consent, for submission of the case before the competent authority for nomination of one of them as member of the above-mentioned committee”.

A PHEC senior official, on condition of anonymity, said the convener for the search committee for the University of Home Economics Mira Phailbus would not be available to perform the task because she would not be in the country.

Meanwhile, the PHED has also advertised the post of the VC for the Information Technology University (ITU). The advertisement was printed on Saturday, unlike the norm, as the department is in a hurry to complete appointments. A letter to publish the advertisement clarified that the ban imposed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was not applicable in this case because of the instructions issued by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The PHED had earlier notified the search committee for the ITU, consisting of Dr Amjad Saqib as the convener while Prof Dr Amjad Hussain, Dr Javed Ghani, Dr Zafar Iqbal Qureshi as members and the HED secretary as the secretary of the committee.

The Punjab Higher Education Department (PHED) is also receiving and processing applications also for VC’s posts of the Women University, Multan, Ghazi University Dera Ghazi Khan, University of Okara, University of Jhang and University of Sahiwal. The department, on average, received 100 applications for each of the university.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2018