PESHAWAR: The Teaching Staff Association of Islamia College University Peshawar has pointed out massive irregularities in appointments in the university and demanded of the government to take immediate action against the authorities concerned and advertise the position of vice-chancellor as per relevant rules.

Addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club, president of association Dr Dilnawaz Khan, general secretary Dr Mohammad Ajmal and other office-bearers alleged that the vice-chancellor of university appointed many people including his son-in-law and two daughters in violation of the rules and discouraged qualified applicants for the positions.

They said that applications were invited through advertisements for different positions but the teaching staff of the university was intentionally neglected during the appointment process. They alleged that about 100 people were appointed illegally in the university.

Flanked by representatives of Peshawar University Teachers Association (Puta) and Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA), Dr Dilnawaz Khan said that at least eight people had challenged the appointments in court but they were intimidated and victimised through different tactics to force them to withdraw their petitions despite courts’ verdicts.

He said that following the complaints, the Governor Inspection Team (GIT) probed into the matter, described the appointments illegal and recommended re-advertisement of the said posts. However, the GIT report could not be implemented so far, he added.

Referring to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities Act, 2012, Dr Dilnawaz said that the three years tenure of the sitting vice-chancellor, Dr Habib Ahmed, would end in July 2019 and the position should be advertised six months ahead of his retirement but the government was yet to implement the law.

He said that following a decision of Supreme Court, the university’s syndicate declared Dr Habib’s appointment as professor null and void. “Currently Dr Habib Ahmad is not even a professor then how he can became a vice-chancellor,” he questioned.

Dr Dilnawaz said that the teachers had time and again tried to apprise the governor and chief minister of the current situation of the university but they did not give them time. The teaching staff would be left with only option to announce boycott of classes if the government failed to pay proper heed to the demands of the association, he said.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2019