ISLAMABAD: The faculty of Comsats University Islamabad (CUI) has demanded end to ad-hocism in the institution.

According to a statement, Academic Staff Association (ASA-CUI) Islamabad chapter has raised concerns about a prolonged delay in the appointment of a permanent rector.

The s tatement, signed by ASA-CUI President Dr Mohammad Jadoon Khan, said it was almost 16 months since the university was functioning without a permanent rector, and a few individuals, most of them having ad-hoc charges, were running the university according to their will and desire.

“Prof Dr Shahid Munir was notified as the rector CUI on September 23, 2024, on recommendations of chancellor CUI, i.e. President of Pakistan, Mr Asif Ali Zardari, but he took the charge as vice chancellor of UET, Lahore,” the statement said.

“This uncertainty is creating a sense of insecurity and restlessness in the faculty in general,” the statement attributed to Dr Mohammad Jadoon Khan stated.

The faculty further reiterated that the university was going through the worst ad-hoc setup since its transformation in 2017.

“Since day one many of the statutory positions like pro-rectors (admin, research and academics), registrar and treasurer have never been filled and these offices are being run by blue-eyed individuals. Similarly, the university has no permanent controller of examination since March 2024 and the office is run by an officer of the rector secretariat,” the statement went on to say.

The faculty has urged Chancellor Asif Ali Zardari to immediately appoint a permanent rector from the remaining panel forwarded by the senate of the university on the recommendations of the rector search committee.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2024