LAHORE: The Islamia University Bahawalpur (IUB) has been operating without a regular vice chancellor (VC) for the past 18 months, causing significant academic and administrative issues for the institution.

The last regular VC, Prof Athar Mahboob, completed his tenure on July 25, 2023. Following his departure, Pro VC Prof Naveed Akhtar assumed the charge but retired from service on Sept 16, 2024.

Prof Muhammad Kamran, the VC of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Engineering, Multan, was given the additional charge of the post for four months, but his tenure ended on Jan 16.

The government had initiated the process of appointing regular VCs in 25 public sector universities across the province in June last year. A search committee, led by former bureaucrat Ismail Qureshi and members retired Lt-Gen Muhammad Asghar, Farkhanda Wasim Afzal and Amjad Saqib, conducted interviews for these key positions in August 2024.

Summary for another ad hoc VC ready

The committee recommended candidates, including Prof Naeem Ahmad Khan for the post of regular VC, in September 2024. However, due to reasons unknown, the government could not issue the appointment notification and re-advertised the vacancy in December last. Prof Naeem Ahmad Khan filed a petition in the Lahore High Court against the Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) for re-advertising the post.

He contended that after his interview for the VC slot on August 17, 2024, by the search committee, he was placed at the top of the merit list. Despite securing the highest score, the final notification faced considerable delays, and Prof Kamran was given the additional charge of IUB VC for four months.

Prof Khan claimed that his rejection and Prof Kamran’s notification were illegal and without lawful authority. He prayed that he be notified as the IUB VC and that the impugned notification dated Oct 16, 2024, be set aside.

The petitioner named the Punjab province through the HED secretary, chancellor/governor, Punjab Higher Education Commission, and IUB as respondents in his petition.

The LHC also sought reasons from the Punjab government for re-advertisement of the VC pot in the next hearing.

HED Secretary Farrukh Naveed stated that the interim post summary of the VC was sent to the Chief Minister’s office and would be notified soon.

The IUB’s Employees Welfare Association has appeal to Punjab chief minister to post a regular VC. It said the staff, including teachers, were getting salaries in installments.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2025