DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Placement of Gomal University Vice-chancellor Prof Zafar Iqbal on 90-day forced leave has drawn pointed scrutiny from academic quarters, with mounting speculations that the action may arrive in conspicuous proximity to the university administration’s formal request to Federal Investigation Agency earlier this month, seeking criminal proceedings against certain former officials.

The timing has fueled conjecture that the two developments are not coincidental, though no official confirmation of any causal link has been issued by relevant authorities.

Questions are being raised in academic circles over whether the recent decision to send Prof Zafar Iqbal on 90-day forced leave is linked to a request to FIA seeking criminal proceedings against certain former officials of the university and their alleged facilitators.

Administration of the university sent a formal letter on June 11 to FIA in the view of current scandal, requesting registration of criminal cases against a former controller of examinations, a former director affiliations and other individuals over allegations relating to fake bank transactions, financial irregularities, alleged embezzlement of funds, use of forged documents and issuance of degrees allegedly inconsistent with university records.

Sources said that the move could have implications for influential individuals and interest groups allegedly connected with past decisions concerning affiliations of private educational institutions, examination matters and administrative affairs. However, these claims could not be independently verified and no investigative agency has so far established the allegations.

Supporters of Prof Zafar Iqbal maintain that his tenure witnessed efforts aimed at strengthening financial discipline, scrutiny of allegedly fake credentials, recovery of dues, merit-based appointments and administrative reforms. They contend that these measures caused discontent among certain influential quarters.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, however, maintained that the vice-chancellor was sent on forced leave on the recommendations of an inquiry committee of higher education department.

A separate three-member committee has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive investigation into administrative, financial, security and recruitment-related issues at the university.

So far, neither provincial government has linked forced leave of vice-chancellor with the letter sent to FIA, nor has any investigative agency announced conclusive findings regarding the allegations mentioned in the complaint.

The vice-chancellor had also ordered officials to scrutinise approximately 1,500 allegedly fake academic degrees, of which they claimed 543 had already been verified.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2026