PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to take disciplinary action against the vice-chancellors of the Women University Swabi and University of Swat over illegal appointments and other matters following inquiries.

The inquiry against vice-chancellor of the Swabi Women University Prof Shahana Urooj Kazmi was conducted by the Governor’s Inspection Team, while the charges against VC of the University of Swat Prof Mohammad Jamal Khan were probed by the provincial inspection team, sources told Dawn.

In light of both inquiries, the higher education department has proposed to the chief minister to advise the governor, who is also the chancellor of public sector universities in the province, to send both VCs on forced leave for a period of three months.

The chancellor had ordered an inquiry into the affairs of the Women University Swabi at the request of the higher education department.

Sources said the department had received several complaints against VC of the Swabi Women University Prof Shahana Urooj Kazmi.

Dept recommends action over illegal appointments, other matters

The provincial government had appointed Prof Shahana, who belongs to Sindh province, for a period of three years.

Sources said the Governor’s Inspection Team, in its detailed probe report, had revealed that the VC has made illegal appointments and inducted around two dozens of own relatives from Sindh province.

Another irregularity detected by the GIT against the VC was the appointment of three superannuated people to the university in violation of the Supreme Court’s relevant orders.

According to the inquiry report, a retired colonel was made the university’s registrar and another man the spokesman though both didn’t have the qualifications and experience required for the posts.

The provincial inspection team recommended to the government punitive action against VC of the University of Swat Prof Mohammad Jamal Khan under the relevant law.

It revealed that the VC was involved in illegal appointments, lacked qualities to head the university, was unable to fill vacancies, and was involved in the irregular utilisation of the budget.

Sources said one of the officials involved in illegal acts also used abusive language and attacked the team. Later, a separate inquiry into the incident was ordered by the chancellor.

Sources said the HED had forwarded separate summaries for action against both VCs to the chief minister, who would advise the chancellor on it.

They said the chancellor could send a vice-chancellor on forced leave for a period of 90 days and could also remove him or her from the post under two different sections of the KP Universities Act, 2012.

Section 12(7) of the law said, “A vice-chancellor shall hold office during the pleasure of the chancellor and before removing a vice-chancellor from his position, the chancellor may grant an opportunity of personal hearing to the vice-chancellor.”

Similarly, Section 12(8) of the law said, “the chancellor can send a VC on fore leave, the said section declares, “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.”

Sources said both summaries had reached the Governor’s House and the governor would approve the punishment in line with the advice of the chief minister soon.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2021