DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has sent Gomal University Vice-chancellor Prof Zafar Iqbal on a 90-day forced leave and constituted a three-member committee to investigate administrative affairs of the university.

According to a notification issued by higher education department, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, in his capacity as chancellor of Gomal University, approved the decision under Section 12(8) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities Act, 2012, on the recommendations of an inquiry committee constituted by the department.

The notification states that the vice-chancellor will remain on forced leave for 90 days. To ensure continuity in the university’s affairs, Imranullah Khan, the senior-most administrative officer at the institution, has been appointed acting registrar until further orders.

The provincial government has also constituted a three-member committee to conduct inquiry into the university’s affairs.

Three-member panel to probe misuse of authority and violation of rules and recommend action

The committee will be headed by the commissioner of Dera Ismail Khan while the vice-chancellor of University of Peshawar and the registrar of University of Science and Technology (UST), Bannu, will be its members. The UST registrar will also act as committee’s secretary.

The committee has been tasked with investigating the incident of alleged firing by a university security officer on a student at Law College, drug abuse in a hostel, complaints regarding alleged appointments made in violation of merit and other allegations levelled against the university administration.

The committee will also examine administrative structure, financial management, security arrangements, hostel administration, student discipline and recruitment procedures at the university.

It has been authorised to record statements of all stakeholders, identify instances of negligence, misuse of authority or violation of rules, recommend legal or departmental action against those found responsible, and propose administrative reforms.

The committee has been directed to submit an evidence-based report to higher education department within two weeks.

The government’s decision got mixed response from academic and administrative circles at the university.

Some faculty members and administrative officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the decision would create uncertainty in the university.

Some civil society members also criticised the government’s decision.

In a statement, Gomal University syndicate member retired Justice Mohammad Daud Khan, president Sohail Ahmed Azmi, general secretary Mohammad Ali Marwat and other members described the decision as an attempt to derail the reform process initiated at the university.

However, the provincial government’s notification states that the decision to send the vice-chancellor on forced leave was taken on the recommendations of the earlier inquiry committee and that the newly constituted committee will submit its findings before any further action is considered.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026