DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A civil court here on Saturday issued a stay order on a petition against the proceedings of a committee formed by the provincial government to investigate alleged irregularities at the Gomal University.

Civil judge Waqar Ahmad issued notices to the respondents and directed them to ensure status quo on the matter until the next hearing.

According to the court’s order, General Secretary of the Gomal University Academic Staff Association Dr Hamid Masood Khan filed a civil suit against the vice-chancellor of the Gomal University and other respondents, challenging a notification issued on June 30, 2026, and the inquiry proceedings initiated under it.

During the preliminary hearing, the court observed that the plaintiff had established a prima facie arguable case on the basis of documents placed on record.

It admitted the lawsuit for further proceedings, issued notices to the respondents and directed them to submit their replies by July 30, 2026.

The court clarified that the order was purely interim in nature and didn’t amount to a final determination on the merits of the case.

Earlier, the higher education department constituted a three-member committee to investigate various issues at Gomal University.

The committee comprises the divisional commissioner, the vice-chancellor of the University of Peshawar and the registrar of the University of Science and Technology, Bannu.

According to the notification, the committee was tasked with investigating the shooting incident involving a law college student that surfaced on social media, an alleged narcotics-related dispute in Hostel No 1, allegations of appointments made in violation of merit, and other administrative irregularities.

The department directed the panel to produce a report based on facts and evidence in the next 15 days.

As part of the inquiry, the registrar of the University of Science and Technology Bannu, who is serving as the committee’s member-secretary, wrote to the registrar of the Gomal University on June 30, 2026, seeking a comprehensive record relating to the university’s recruitment process.

The committee sought documents concerning appointments in BPS-17 and above, including recruitment rules, advertisements, no-objection certificates, records of scrutiny and quantification committees, lists of applicants, appellate committee proceedings, selection board minutes, details of subject experts, syndicate decisions, appointment orders and other relevant documents.

In the lawsuit, Dr Khan contended that the inquiry committee had exceeded its terms of reference by seeking records beyond its legal mandate.

He requested the court to declare the June 30 notification and all proceedings carried out under it unlawful and without legal effect.

The court issued notices to the respondents and ordered status quo on the matter until further proceedings.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2026