PESHAWAR: A high level inquiry committee has detected irregularities in appointments and upgradation of officials and manipulation of record, statutes and minutes of the syndicate meetings in the Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan.

In its probe, the committee has also found that the university administration has failed to recover Rs49.29 million from Dil Nawaz, a project director, despite the decision of the Public Accounts Committee of the provincial assembly.

The report of the inquiry committee, available with Dawn, has also recommended to the university administration to recover outstanding dues from the 19 unsuccessful scholars, who availed the scholarships but didn’t complete their studies.

The inquiry committee was formed on the directions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Shah Farman, who is also chancellor of public sector universities in the province. He ordered the committee to probe different complaints received by him from different quarters.

VC says syndicate proper forum to take action against accused

The committee was consisted of special secretary of higher education department, additional secretaries of the establishment, finance, law and higher education departments.

One of the complaints was about the alleged illegal appointment of Dil Nawaz as director of ‘improvement and development of Gomal University DI Khan’ project, initiated by Higher Education Commission.

In its findings, the committee states that perusal of the record shows that the university administration failed in recovery of Rs49.29 million to implement the Public Accounts Committee’s decision within the stipulated time being binding on the administration. “The audit para has been still pending since 28 January 2015,” it says.

The committee has recommended that the syndicate may be directed to recover Rs49.29 million as per PAC decisions from the project director, consultant and other responsible officers/officials.

It states that the allowance drawn by Dil Nawaz as project director worth Rs50,000 per month may also be recovered from him by the syndicate.

During the probe proceeding, the university administration informed it that there were 19 unsuccessful scholars, who availed scholarships but didn’t complete their studies. It is violation of their agreement with the university.

The committee has recommended that the university should place cases of all unsuccessful scholars before the forthcoming meeting of syndicate with clear recommendations of recovery of salaries drawn during study leave period including liquidated damages while the amount of scholarship must also be recovered as per relevant provision of the agreement bond after clarification from HEC.

The probe comity has also noticed drastic irregularity in first hiring the services of Syed Zeeshan Ali Shah an official of the HBL and later on posting him as additional director finance on the fixed pay of Rs 1000,000.

“The competent authority on the recommendation of the director finance, Gomal University and on advice of Ministry of Finance and HEC, has been pleased to hire the services of Syed Zeeshan Ali Shah (HBL, SM-1/Branch Manager). His services will be on the disposal of finance directorate for budget and planning”, reveals his appointment letter mentioned in the inquiry report.

His appointment was not agreed by the HBL vide its letter NO JK/HR/03, dated 23rd January 2018, according to the inquiry report.

During the probe proceeding, the university failed to provide any document, which testifies that the order was issued on the advice of the Minister of Finance, government of Pakistan, Islamabad.

According to the inquiry report, no advertisement was floated in print media about the post of project director. It says that no proceeding of the selection board/selection committee took place for the post and neither approval of syndicate was obtained.

The committee has also found appointment of several faculty members of the university in violation of the KP Universities Act, 2012. It has recommended termination of the services of all such employees.

The committee has also detected several wrong appointments including the posting of director administration Dil Nawaz as registrar, computer programmer Mohammad Riaz Betani as deputy director (establishment), assistant controller exam Wasim Katikhel as deputy registrar (academic) and retired assistant librarian Feroz Khan as deputy registrar (establishment) etc.

The probe panel has recommended cancellation of all such adjustments/transfers and repatriation of all such officers to their original posts. It has also observed that a special proviso has fraudulently been added to the university’s statutes.

Gomal University Vice-chancellor Mohammad Sarwar, when contacted, said that all the issues mentioned in the inquiry report were discussed thoroughly in the syndicate meeting held on April 23 and 24.

“A special committee has been formed by the syndicate for conducting the procedure before taking any action against the officials accused of corruption and irregularities etc,” he said. He added that syndicate empowered the special committee to conduct personal hearing of all the accused.

Mr Sarwar said that an emergency syndicate meeting would be convened before the holy month of Ramazan as syndicate was the competent forum for taking any action against the accused officials.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2019