ISLAMABAD, Feb 12: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has formally asked the Presidency to look into the affairs of the Federal Urdu University for Arts, Science & Technology (FUUAST) in Karachi which is being run without a vice chancellor since May 2006 and its administration is facing problems, Dawn has learnt.

The President is the chancellor of the university set up under university ordinance 2002 for the promotion of Urdu in modern subjects. Under its charter, subjects like computer sciences, management sciences, economics etc would be taught in Urdu.

“The university is in a mess, its administration in disarray and many officials only care about securing their own interest in total disregard to university affairs,” a senior HEC official told Dawn requested not to be named. Since, the HEC respects the university’s autonomy and does not want to enter into a direct confrontation, therefore, they requested the Presidency to take action, the official said.

The university is without a vice chancellor and its senate has appointed Dr Kamaluddin as In-Charge Vice Chancellor. Since it was setup through a presidential ordinance in 2002, the university has seen five vice chancellors, the last being Dr Iqbal Mohsin who was forced to resign prematurely.

“Twice the President’s Secretariat has notified search committees for selection of a new vice chancellor, however, every time the university administration comes up with an excuse and the post is yet to be advertised,” the official said.

After the committee’s first notification, the university demanded representation of two teachers on the seven-member search committee, which has been accepted and in the second search committee, the official said.

After constitution of the committee, the university administration has to advertise the post and start the selection process, the official added. The official said the administration was intentionally delaying selection to fulfill their vested interests, he said.

The official said Dr Kamal, a member of the search committee, had indicated that he wanted to apply, hence, he had to be replaced.