LAHORE, Nov 30: Mira Phailbus is likely to continue indefinitely as the principal of the Kinnaird College as its board of governors has yet to initiate the process of her replacement. Ms Phailbus had taken over the charge from Ms Ira Hasan about a month ago for a period of 30 days only and the BoGs, headed by Dr Alexander John Malik, was supposed to select the new principal in the meantime.

The Punjab Education Department, the authority to question the BoGs for not appointing a principal on permanent basis after the expiry of the stipulated period of one month, has yet to interfere.

The department, however, cannot force the BoGs to take a decision in this regard within a stipulated period.

Punjab education secretary Javed Aslam told Dawn on Wednesday that the department would ask the BoGs to inform it about the progress on the selection of a permanent principal.

Answering a question, Mr Aslam said since the KC was an autonomous institution, the department did not interfere in its matters.

However, according to official sources, the BoGs wants Ms Phailbus to continue as principal as long as she desires. They say Ms Phailbus, who has successfully served the college as principal for 32 years, is on better terms with the BoGs to run the affairs of the institution.

Ira Hasan, who also served the KC as an English teacher for 30 years and assumed the charge of principal in the middle of last year after the retirement of Ms Phailbus, was removed for her “failure in administrative matters”. She had been repatriated to the education department.

It is said the BoGs had taken the decision of her removal in haste as it took the education department into confidence at eleventh hour.

Some education department officials are of the view that Ms Hasan’s row with a member of the BoGs over a construction matter cost her the posting.

Besides, it is also said that being an education department employee, Ms Hasan did not enjoy BoGs’ complete trust.

BoGs chairman Dr Alexander John Malik was not available for comments.