SWABI: The Women University Swabi (WUS) has been functioning without a regular vice-chancellor since May this year after the governor, who is also chancellor of public sector universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sent its regular VC, Prof Shahana Urooj Kazmi, on forced leave twice spanning six months.

In October, additional charge of WUS VC was given to Prof Zahoorul Haq, the VC of Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan. Earlier, Prof Mukarram Shah was its acting VC.

It has been learnt that the WUS senate meeting, which was scheduled to be held at the Governor House on Wednesday, has been postponed for lack of quorum.

When contacted, Prof Kazmi toldthis correspondent that before convening the senate meeting it was expected that she would be terminated from service. “They wanted to end my service, but after the court verdict on the show cause notice it was difficult,” she said.

“I have submitted a 70-page reply to the show cause notice. I never indulged in any wrong act and performed my official duty,” she said.

The Peshawar High Court’s “interim relief” order in the show cause notice says that “no final order shall be passed” against Prof Kazmitill Nov 26, the next date of hearing.

Sources said that Prof Kazmi’s forced leave would end on Nov 20.

They said she could not be sent on forced leave for third time and the university senate or chancellor had to make a decision either terminating or allowing her to resume charge as VC again.

On the show cause case, the decision was handed down on Saturday, giving relief to the petitioner (Prof Kazmi) and directing her to submit a reply to the notice.

Earlier, a writ petition filed by Prof Kazmi against the recommendations of the Governor Inspection Team and the order of the chancellor for sending her on forced leave was dismissed.However, she challenged the PHC verdict in the Supreme Court.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2021