SWABI: Leaders of Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) said here on Friday that the wrong policies and violation of principles of merit by the vice chancellor (VC) of the University of Swabi (UoS) badly damaged the varsity’s reputation.

Addressing a joint press conference at the main entrance of the university, former provincial general secretary of ANP Salim Khan advocate, ANP district president Ghulam Haqqani, PPP district president Ali Khan, PPP leader Biland Iqbal Tarakai and others blamed the PTI’s provincial government for bringing chaos to the university due to its wrong and irrelevant policies.

They said that UoS VC Prof Dr Jamal Nasir Khattak’s inability and lack of professionalism was responsible for a loss of Rs 190 million to the varsity in the current budget.

They alleged that the vice chancellor had laid off workers including 34 PhD scholars on the plea of financial constraints, and he was now hiring people of his personal choice which was totally against the principles of merit.

PPP president Ali Khan said that a delegation of local politicians would soon contact the KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi to make him aware of the financial irregularities and mismanagement in the affairs of the varsity.

After the press conference, activists of Pakhtun Students Federation (PSF) staged a demonstration in front of the varsity’s main gate.

They were holding placards inscribed with anti-VC slogans and vowed to continue their protest in favour of their demands.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2024