LAHORE, Jan 18: The Government College University’s economics department chairman has been removed after he is found guilty of plagiarism, it is learnt. The administration has also withdrawn Prof Dr Qais Aslam’s services under the Tenure Track System. Prof Sheikh Salahuddin has replaced him.

Sources told Dawn that Prof Qais Aslam had copied excerpts from the book of an Indian Nobel laureate, AK Sen, and the publications of the World Bank in one of his articles bearing his name as the author.

They said someone from the Islamic International University, Islamabad, had complained to the Higher Education Commission about alleged plagiarism by Prof Qais. The HEC then asked the GCU administration to investigate the matter, which constituted an inquiry committee in this respect. The committee found him guilty and recommended action against him, sources said.

“We have taken prompt action against Mr Qais as the GCU has zero tolerance against plagiarism. Unlike other universities of the country which are trying hard to save their plagiarists, the GCU has refused any help to the guilty,” a senior GCU official told this reporter on the request of anonymity.

He said action against Mr Qais served as a strong message to other academics of the varsity to refrain from such activities.

HEC Adviser Quality Assurance Riaz Qureshi confirmed the report and said the HEC had zero tolerance against plagiarism. He also informed that the commission had decided to place the names of plagiarists on its website. “The decision will be implemented after receiving confirmation on other plagiarism cases being investigated by different universities,” he added.

On the other hand, the Punjab University has failed to take action against the alleged plagiarists of the Centre for Higher Energy Physics, including its head.

Sources said the HEC chairman had written a letter to the governor and the PU vice-chancellor, requesting them to take action against the alleged plagiarists. Prof Fazl-i-Aleem (head), Rashid Ahmad, Sohail Afzal Tahir, M. Alam Saeed and Maqsood Ahmad of the CHEP are alleged to have copied excerpts of an article by renowned physicist Prof Chris Llewellyn Smith and got it published by their names in “Science in Africa”, an international South African publication, without acknowledging any reference to the original author. The issue was surfaced in August last year.

The preliminary inquiry has already recommended action against them. However, a new committee, headed by Prof Dil Muhammad, has been constituted to probe the matter.

PU Registrar Prof Naeem Khan said the varsity was not sweeping the issue under the carpet. He said the new committee was scheduled to present its recommendations to the syndicate before Jan 31. “Any action will be initiated against the accused on the committee’s recommendation and in keeping with the university calendar,” he added.

The HEC has already provided policy guidelines on plagiarism by either students or teachers. It has also warned them that intellectual theft will not be tolerated.