GUJRAT: The Syndicate of University of Gujrat (UoG) has finally dismissed the university’s Pro-VC Prof Dr Mushahid Anwar following a personal hearing regarding submission of a fake experience certificate by him for the job.

However, official sources said the dismissal was without recovery of Rs60m that Mr Anwar had received in the shape of salary and other allowances.

Earlier, an inquiry committee, comprising some senior officials, had recommended the major penalty and recovery of all the financial benefits the dismissed pro-VC had availed during almost nine years of his job at the UoG.

The UoG Syndicate, in its previous 50th meeting, had decided to dismiss him but afforded him a personal hearing, which was done in Syndicate’s 51st meeting on Aug 21.

According to the unanimous decision of UoG Syndicate in 51st meeting, the major penalty of dismissal from service had been imposed on Prof Dr Muhammad Mushahid Anwar under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act 2006 (PEEDA Act) for securing the post of Professor of Geography on the basis of a fake experience certificate.

The Syndicate afforded him a personal hearing under Section 13 of the Act. Dr Anwar argued that he had served at an NGO, SCOPE, on an honorarium paid in monthly cash. However, an affidavit filed by the NGO’s president and ex-CEO categorically stated that the experience certificate was fabricated.

The University Syndicate’s move, however, has received criticism from the varsity staff who said that the decision overturned its own inquiry committee’s recommendation for reversion and recovery of paid salary. The critics say the Syndicate had undermined both accountability and the spirit of the PEEDA law.

It is pertinent to mention that the pro-VC Dr Mushahid has also served as acting VC UoG for 18 months until the appointment of a regular incumbent around eight months ago.

On the other hand, since the assumption of office by the incumbent VC Prof Dr Zahoorul Haq earlier this year, at least 20 senior teachers and administrative officers who worked with the previous acting VC had been placed under PEEDA inquiries.

Records, available with Dawn, also revealed that the university administration had reportedly purchased a new 2000CC car worth around Rs11.5m for the VC and declared his residence as a ‘camp office’, waiving off utility bills whereas the VC already had at least two to three vehicles in his use. Similarly, it is learnt that a gym worth Rs1.5m with a sound system was being set up for university’s senior faculty and staff.

Naeem Butt, acting registrar and a spokesman for UoG, confirmed that the Syndicate had removed the pro-VC from the service. When asked why the Syndicate did not decide to recover the amount of financial benefits availed by Mr Anwar, he said it was unanimous decision of the Syndicate and it did not mention the recovery.

Responding to other questions, he said that the new car had been purchased for the university’s transport fleet when his attention was drawn that the new vehicle was currently in use of VC, he responded it would be used by the VC only for visits to the sub-campuses and checking centers etc as well as for the pick and drop of the foreign delegates. He also denied that that the utility bills of VC house were being paid by the university, adding that the VC was paying the utility bills himself.

shot dead: A 50-year-old shopkeeper was shot dead and his two close relative were injured by the firing of a customer after he declined to give a cigarette pack on credit in Chakori Pikho village of Kunjah police precinct.

As per reports, one Adeel Warraich demanded shopkeeper Arshad Warraich to give him cigarettes on credit, but the owner refused. Later, the suspect went to the roof of his house located close to the shop and started firing at the shop owner, leaving Arshad, Fayaz and Tasawar injured.

The assailant fled the scene and the shopkeeper breathed his last on the way to the hospital.

The deceased and the injured were shifted to the Kunjah THQ hospital, where doctors later referred them to the Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital.

Police registered a case against the suspect and his father on the complaint of Nasir Mehmood, a close kin of the deceased, and started investigation.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2025