LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has suspended the appointment of the vice chancellor of the Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF) and sought replies from the caretaker Punjab government and the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Justice Asim Hafeez passed the order on a petition filed by Zainul Abidin and directed the registrar office to fix the next hearing of the case accordingly in terms of the ongoing summer vacation plan.

The petitioner, through a counsel, argued that the governor issued a notification on June 22, 2023, about the appointment of Dr Nasir Amin as GCUF vice chancellor.

He said the governor acted on the advice of the caretaker chief minister who lacked authority to recommend or advise for the appointment of a permanent vice chancellor in terms of the restraint provided under sub-section 2 of section 230 of the Election Act 2017.

The petitioner contended that the respondent vice chancellor upon being illegally appointed initiated the process for the appointment of assistant professors, which was unlawful and without jurisdiction.

He asked the court to set aside the appointment of the respondent vice chancellor for being made in an unconstitutional manner.

The judge admitted the petition for regular hearing and issued notices to the respondents for submission of their replies.

The judge suspended the impugned notification passed by the governor, refrained the GCUF vice chancellor from functioning and also from continuing with the process of the further appointments in question.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2023