DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Civil society activists, the Gomal University Pensioners’ Association and the Central Traders’ Association on Sunday set up a protest camp at the GPO Chowk here to demand the immediate restoration of vice-chancellor Prof Zafar Iqbal and to call for an investigation into an alleged fake degree scandal.

Among those in attendance were Civil Society Dera president Suhail Ahmed Azmi, JUI-F tehsil emir Kafeel Ahmed Nizami, pensioners’ association chairman Shafqat Qayyum Alizai, a former judge, Justice (retd) Mohammad Daud, former MPA Mazhar Jamil Alizai and traders’ association chairman Javed Akhtar.

The protesters chanted slogans against the provincial government and called for those allegedly involved in the fake degree scam and other irregularities to be brought to justice following transparent investigations.

Addressing the participants, Mr Azmi alleged that politically motivated appointments of vice chancellors in public universities by successive Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led provincial governments had contributed to administrative, financial and academic difficulties in higher education institutions, including Gomal University.

He claimed that Prof Iqbal had initiated reforms to improve governance, financial discipline and administrative affairs at the university. He further alleged that influential individuals, including senior officials, public representatives and other powerful figures, could be affected by ongoing inquiries into the alleged fake degrees scam, and asserted that the vice-chancellor had been placed on forced leave to halt that process.

Mr Azmi urged the government to reinstate the vice-chancellor and allow investigations into alleged irregularities to proceed without interference.

No official response was immediately available from the provincial government regarding the allegations raised by the protesters.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2026