PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Shah Farman on Tuesday sent the pro-vice-chancellor of the Islamia College University, Dr Naushad Khan, on forced leave for a period of 90 days.

The action was taken by the governor as the chancellor of the university under Section 12(8) of the KP Universities Act, 2012, over mismanagement and irregularities, said a notification issued by the higher education department.

“The Governor KP/chancellor, Islamia College, Peshawar has been pleased to send Prof Dr Naushad Khan, Pro Vice Chancellor on forced leave for a period of ninety days with an immediate effect on account of the acts of mismanagement and maladministration reported in print and electronic media as well as irregularities and nepotism pointed out by the Governor’s Inspection Team in its report,’ read the notification.

In the absence of the vice-chancellor and pro-vice-chancellor, the governor gave the additional charge of the post to VC of the University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Prof Jehan Bakhat until further orders.

Under the KP Universities Act, 2012, the chancellor can sent the vice-chancellor of a public sector university on forced leave for a period of ninety days.

Section 12(8) of the act states, “The Chancellor may send the Vice Chancellor on forced leave for ninety (90) days extendable once if the circumstances so demands for reasons to be recorded.”

Dr Naushad rejected the allegations and claimed that during his one-year long tenure as the pro-VC, no financial or administrative irregularity had occurred.

He said over-staffing and wrong selections of different projects were the main issues of the university and all that had happened during the terms of his predecessors.

The tenure of Islamia College University Vice-Chancellor Prof Habib Ahmad had expired over a year ago since then but the provincial government has failed to appoint a regular vice-chancellor.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2020