PESHAWAR, Aug 25: Different civil society organisations have threatened to launch 'Save University of Peshawar' campaign if Vice-Chancellor Dr Azmat Hayat is not replaced immediately.

“The vice-chancellor has ditto copied major portions, including the conclusion, of his PhD thesis 'The Durand Line: Its Geo-Strategic Importance-2000' from that the research work of an Indian academician Dr Kulwant Kaur, titled Pak-Afghanistan Relations-1985,” Amn Tehrik leader Dr Said Alam told a press conference here on Thursday.

He said that after confirmation of complaints against the vice-chancellor about copying thesis of an Indian scholar for his doctorate degree he deserved punishment under the relevant law.

“The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor had sent his case for inquiry to High Education Commission, which also proved plagiarism in the thesis and submitted a report to the governor on Aug 9 but he has not taken action against him so far,” he said.

Dr Said Alam was flanked by representatives of Women Action Forum, SAP-PK, Aurat Foundation, Bacha Khan Education Trust Foundation, Pashto Alami Congress, Khowendo Kor, Sharkat Gah, Pakhtun Awareness Movement, Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network, Tribal NGOs Consortium, Youth for Peace and Development, Wapda Hydro Union, National Party, Pakistan Peoples Party-Sherpao, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Tribal Development Network.

He said that their action committee decided to organise protest demonstrations, seminars and dialogues against the governor if he did not remove the vice-chancellor immediately.

The inquiry report, he said, had brought a bad name to the university both at local and international levels as plagiarism was considered one of the heinous crimes.

He added that plagiarism was also a crime like robbery and theft and the accused should be punished accordingly. Dr Said Alam also demanded of the governor to make sure recovery of all the salaries, perks and privileges from the vice-chancellor, he had enjoyed so far.

He said that the action committee would also raise voice against all the teachers whose documents were doubtful. He added that all decisions should be taken on basis of merit in order to save institutions.“In case Dr Azmat Hayat is not removed, the university may be blacklisted at international level,” he feared and added that a person, who obtained degree on fake thesis, could not impart quality education to students.

To a query, he said that civil society organisations had not enmity with the vice-chancellor. “We have already been suffering owing to militancy as hundreds of educational institutions have been blown up and if the prestigious institutions are given in supervision of plagiarists then thousands of students will face a bleak future,” he said.

Referring to harassment case of girl students in the university, Dr Said Alam alleged that real accused were protected.