SUKKUR: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has ordered probe into complaints of gross irregularities and appointment of ‘favourite’ non-PhD and M.Phil degree holders as faculty members in several departments at Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur.

He took notice of reports about illegal appointment of BPS-19 to 21 as teaching faculty published in local dailies and voices raised against blatant violation of the recruitment policy of the university and ordered secretary of universities and boards to launch a thorough inquiry into the charges levelled in this regard by Dr Mohammad Aslam Korai, a college lecturer who had applied for the post of assistant professor in organic chemistry department.

Mr Korai said that appointment of teaching faculty especially ‘assistant professor’ in four branches of the department was not made according to the requirement policy as laid down in the advertisement published in March for the post of BPS-19.

The advertisement said the candidates who applied for the post of assistant professor must have a PhD degree with two years teaching and research experience at a recognised university or professional experience in the relevant field in a national or international organisation but the candidates who were cleared for selection did not meet the criteria, said the complainant.

He said the university administration conducted interviews on July 2-4 but neither any notification was circulated nor any candidates applying for the post of assistant professor were called for interview.

Furthermore, as per Higher Education Commission, members of the selection committee should have PhD degree holders in relevant field but they were not experts in the relevant fields and lacked exposure to chemistry branch, yet they conducted interviews and recommended short list of ‘favourites’ for appointment as assistant professors in the chemistry departments.

At the time of papers’ scrutiny, eligibility criteria were completely neglected and only favourite candidates’ papers were approved, he claimed.

Three other candidates Atta Hussain Rind, Khalid Hussain Bhutto and Aijaz Hussain Memon were declared eligible though they did not meet the criteria for the post, he said, adding that Jamshed, brother of director of the Institute of Islamic Studies, was also declared eligible.

He accused media coordinator of the Faculty of Social Sciences dean Prof Dr Taj Mohammad Lashari of getting two of his daughters appointed as lecturers at zoology and education departments with the support of the university registrar.

The complainant proved his charges leveled against selection committee and managing board with the help of ample evidence.

Two college lecturers, who had also applied for the post of assistant professor in zoology department, said that they were not even called for the interviews.

Asked whether they would submit complaints against the selection board, one of them said he was currently doing PhD at the university and could not even think of going against the management while the other said it was wastage of time to talk against corrupt mafia in the syndicate and the selection committee.

A source at the university said that apart from unfair selection of ‘favorites’ through sham interviews, the practice of large-scale embezzlement and misappropriation of funds was rife at the university.

He said that no efforts were made to improve standard of education at the university and create bright opportunities for students. The syndicate members and powerful individuals were interested only in exerting influence and using unfair means to have their sons and daughters selected for the teaching faculty posts in several different departments at the university, he said.

Asked what would happen if the complainants decided to move the court, he said that the policies formed by the syndicate could not be challenged in any court.

The university’s spokespersons and information cell were unavailable for comments.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2022