FAISALABAD: Three probe committees have found misappropriation of million of rupees funds in a research project and two of the panels declared former acting vice chancellor Dr Nasir Amin and Prof Farhat Abbas guilty. And instead of taking action against them, the syndicate of the Government College University Faisalabad formed another committee [fourth] to probe the issue on Tuesday.

Now a three-member committee comprising vice chancellors of the Punjab University and the University of Agriculture Faisalabad and a legal expert has been formed which will probe the case and submit the report.

A project titled `Provision of academic and research facilities at the GCUF` was awarded on a cost-sharing basis to the university in April 2014. The cost of the project was Rs732 million in which the share of the GCUF was Rs200m. The project included procurement of lab equipment, chemicals and glassware, vehicles, furniture and fixture.

A five-member committee was formed by then VC Dr Zakir Hussan to issue tender and to buy lab items.

Prof Abbas was made the project director and convener of the purchase committee and Dr Amin was also part of the panel which started bidding. Two companies - Technology Links (TL) and Rizvi and Company - were selected. The TL was the lowest bidder. Instead of awarding contract to the TL company, the committee awarded this contract to the Rizvi and Company.

Move draws criticism as two committees have declared former acting VC, project director guilty

In Pakistani rupees, the price differential between the two companies bids was Rs162m.

Dr Amin attended almost all meetings of the procurement task and properly signed the relevant documents as well.

However, after about 15 months of the process, Dr Amin submitted an application to the VC on Oct 7, 2015, saying, “Recently, I got the chance of evaluating and inspecting the tender documents provided in the original tender file 214/2014 where I found some irregularities in the purchase of hi-tech laboratory equipment.

Since it involves possible misuse of public funds, I feel it my responsibility to report this matter to the competent authority for a thorough investigation. For the above-mentioned laboratory tender, out of five technically qualified companies, four submitted tender documents for the laboratory equipment.”

Among these technically qualified companies, the TL was the lowest bidder in terms of rates for 22 lab items.

On the other hand, the Rizvi and Company quoted almost two times higher rates of the 22 items. However, the technically qualified bid of the TL was disqualified for the reason that the company was ‘not responsive’ and the tender was eventually awarded to the Rizvi and Company.

“I should also mention here that the whole process of purchase of the equipment was marred by procedural irregularities. The project director ‘kept me in the dark’ while getting my signature on tender documents and keeping all the details of the process secret.

Since it is evident to me that award of tender was not carried out in accordance with the rules and the project director may not have used public funds in an honourable way, I request your honour to probe into this matter,” Dr Amin mentioned in the application.

Following the complaint by Dr Amin, the VC had formed a three-member committee consisting of Dr Muhammad Zubair, then dean of science and technology, Dr Amin and Dr Tayyaba Sultana.

This committee also raised question mark on the entire purchasing process and the VC took the matter to the syndicate meeting which asked for fresh probe.

Another four-member committee headed by Dr Ikramul Haq, director ORIC of the GC University, Lahore, was formed on Nov 24, 2015 which also said that irregularities had been committed in the entire process.

The Punjab finance department objected that why complainant Dr Amin was included in the inquiry committee, constituted by then VC Dr Mohammad Ali Shah. the department also raised the question that why the complainant, who was a member of evaluation committee, submitted his complaint after 15 months of the [committee] meeting.

Similar questions were raised by Dr Amir Ijaz, VC of the Mohammad Nawaz Sharif University of Engineering and Technology, Multan, who also probed the issue - a third inquiry into the issue.

On May 7, 2018, Dr Ijaz was appointed as the inquiry officer on the direction of the syndicate.

Dr Ijaz wrote to the registrar of the GCUF on June 22, 2018 that he studied the inquiries conducted by Dr Muhammad Zubair and other by Dr Ikramul Haq and reply by defendant Dr Farhat Abbas.

“Prima facie it can be concluded that the complainant (Dr Amin) himself was part of the procurement committee and had been present in most of the committee meetings and also signed the papers related to the procurement process.

It`s a matter of concern that why the complainant took 15 months to lodge the complaint after the completion of procurement process? Whereas, on the other hand, why the financial bids of Technology Links were opened while it was ineligible in technical bid and was non-responsive? It makes the case weak and on the other hand casts doubt on Dr Abbas. The purchase committee should have had included some representatives from treasurer and resident auditor offices,” Ijaz said.

He further mentioned it can be concluded that formalities were not followed in true letter and spirit and the procurement process was carried out in haste. No solid evidence was provided that how the TL company was non-responsive? It is not clear why Rizvi and Company was given the supply order despite their quotation almost double the quotation by the TL.

Apparently, in the presence of strict administrative hierarchy, it seems difficult to hold one person responsible for the irregularities. So it is difficult to point out a single person responsible for the irregularities committed in the process of procurement, he added.

Sources told Dawn that some syndicate members had been approached by [suspect] Dr Nasir Amin with a request to give him clean chit in the issue as he was the applicant of the case. However, they said the members could not give him any relief following the detailed inquiries against him and ordered another probe which invited criticism.

The university teachers said when members of the two inquiries had conducted detailed investigation in which the guilty officials had been given the opportunities to defend themselves then why another inquiry had been ordered. They said it seemed the guilty officials would avoid action against them by utilising their ‘political connections.’

When contacted VC Dr Shahid Kamal said: “We are probing the issue afresh and proceedings would be initiated against Dr Farhat Abbas who is absent from duty right now.”

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2019