BAHAWALPUR: The Punjab chief minister is presently seized with the selection of an eligible candidate for the slot of the Islamia University (IUB) vice chancellor out of a summary comprising three aspirants forwarded by the Punjab search committee.

Dawn has learnt that the Punjab government’s search committee had recommended the names of three candidates with high academic qualifications and vast experience in the field of administrative education last month to pick up one of them as IUB VC. For this purpose, the committee had interviewed several applicants in Lahore.

According to sources, the search committee’s summary contains the names of Prof Dr Athar Mahboob, the vice chancellor of Engineering University, Rahim Yar Khan, Prof Dr Shakir Ghazali, presently serving as IUB Rahim Yar Khan sub-campus director and Prof Dr Muhammad Iqbal.

It is further learnt that the Chief Minister’s Secretariat may keep the further process pending till the return of Punjab Governor/Chancellor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar for consultation between him and Chief Minister Usman Buzdar with regard to the selection of the IUB VC. This may cause further delay in the appointment against the slot.

Sources said that was the reason that Mr Sarwar, before proceeding on the foreign trip, had extended the tenure of the IUB acting VC Prof Dr Aamir Aiajz for another 45 days to run the varsity’s day-to-day affairs.

DIES: The alleged killer of his wife and stepson who had later attempted suicide at Sammsatta, succumbed to his self-inflicted bullet wounds at a local hospital late on Wednesday.

Muhammad Ali had shot self after shooting his wife Nadira and her 22-yera-old son from her first marriage dead following a domestic dispute.

He had suffered serious wounds and was said to be critical at the hospital.

Sammsatta police have booked the deceased for double murder and suicide.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2019