HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad circuit bench of the Sindh High Court on Thursday dismissed a petition filed by Sindh University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Fateh Mohammad Burfat seeking withdrawal of the FIR lodged against him by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) on Aug 31.

The division bench, comprising Justices Abdul Malik Gaddi and Adnanul Karim Memon, declared the VC’s petition as not maintainable.

The court would however record detailed reasons later on.

Mr Burfat appeared in court on Thursday, represented by Rafiq Kalwar advocate. The VC said he was aggrieved and victimised by the ACE. He said the Sindh secretary universities and boards forwarded an impugned summary to Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who is also chancellor of provincial universities, to seek registration of FIR against him.

He alleged that the CM had been trying to exert illegal pressure on him for illegal and direct appointments, transfers/postings and undue favours to persons affiliated with him (CM) and his party (Pakistan Peoples Party).

He said he had been time and again emphasising for the betterment of SU that was facing issues of over-employment and lack of funds; it was already overburdened due to political appointments.

He said coercion and intimidation to illegally remove him started when the ACE and its deputy director issued notice on Nov 5, 2018, to him and other SU officials, alleging that the VC was involved in making illegal appointments, making and breaking of controlled committees, incurring of expenditure over and above entitlement, misallocating budget for kickbacks, abusing revenue generating commercial entities and misusing his authority.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2020