SWABI: The University of Swabi has been without the vice-chancellor and the pro-vice-chancellor for last three weeks, as a result, administrative, academic and research activities have come to a standstill, sources told Dawn here on Monday.

They said due to vacancy of the important posts, the varsity employees won’t be able to get the current month’s salary.

As per Universities Act, 2016, the pro vice chancellor is required to function as interim head till the arrival of a regular vice chancellor, said the sources.

However, in violation of the act and norms of good administration, the outgoing vice-chancellor had left the position of pro-VC vacant in the hope that the government would allow him to continue as the varsity head.

Employees won’t be able to get June salary due to vacancy

While the summery prepared by the higher education department for appointment of pro-VC has been circulating in various offices for the past three weeks, the administrative, academic and research activities in the university have come to a standstill, they said.

Due to lack of an authorised head, the varsity could not properly handle the online classes or prepare a coordinated response in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, the sources said.

They said the university employees had shown concern over delay in timely payment of salary.

In the meantime, the former VC is still manouvering to secure acting charge after rejection of his request for extension in his tenure, said the sources.

The employees have demanded a probe against those responsible for creating the uncertain situation, said the sources.

INCREASE IN PENSION SOUGHT: The retired employees association has demanded increase in pensions.

Speaking at a meeting on Monday, the association’s members criticised the government for not increasing salaries and pensions in the budget under the garb of coronavirus pandemic.

They said the bureaucrats and politicians had been enjoying various perks and privileges at the cost of government employees.

BLOOD FEUD RESOLVED: A three-decade-old blood feud was resolved by a local jirga in Marghuz area on Monday.

The jirga members kept negotiating with the elders of the rival parties to help remove the hurdles gradually.

“It was not an easy task to make a headway while accommodating demands of both the parties,” Dr Shabir, a jirga member, said, adding they continued their struggle and finally succeeded in striking a peace deal between the rival groups.

Meanwhile, the police arrested a man and recovered Rs53,000 counterfeit currency from him.

The police said a case had been registered against Mubasir Khan, a resident of Tarakai union council.

The man was held while buying items from a grocery shop in Zarobi Bazaar as he presented a fake note of Rs1,000 to the trader. During search of the man, Rs53,000 fake notes were recovered from his pocket.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2020