PESHAWAR: Kohat University of Science and Technology (Kust) has stated that a group of teachers were involved in ‘defaming’ the university for their vested interests and legal action would be taken against all such elements.

Responding to a news item published in Dawn on July 31, 2023, titled “Kohat varsity VC accused of making illegal appointments”, the university management stated that the allegations levelled by the said group of teachers were unfounded and baseless.

As per a statement issued by Kust management, the story mentioning “teachers” levelling the allegations against the university was denied with a response that it was not the teachers community but a group of 4 to 5 teachers of the university who were trying to blackmail the management and the vice-chancellor for getting illegal benefits, which the Kust VC had denied to them.

“In order to defame the vice-chancellor as pressure tactics, they are running a campaign with hidden personal agendas not only in print but also on social media with fake accounts and identities,” the management said.

It informed that the management had decided to take legal actions against all such acts and individuals that were ‘defaming’ the university.

“The university officials have denied all the allegations mentioned in the published article with a stance that Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Sardar Khan believes on merit and transparency. He has refused to bow down against all such blackmailing acts from a few individuals with their ill intentions for personal benefits,” the statement said.

It further stated that all the appointments at Kust passed through a transparent process starting from advertisement till selection.

It was added that all the positions advertised till this date had gone through a transparent scrutiny with the quantifications of applicants displayed publically at the website.

“All the candidates appeared for final interview at selection board that has members including nominees of chancellor, Public Service Commission and HED Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Also, university while promoting/appointing strictly follow rules in line with HEC and according to chancellor directives that are approved from statutory bodies.”

Moreover, the statement maintained that the university management under the leadership of Prof Dr Sardar Khan (VC) was committed to taking a firm stance on the rule of law governed by statutory bodies and would never bow down to such pressure tactics.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2023