ISLAMABAD, April 12: Two main accused in the PhD thesis scam of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) have tendered resignations, allegedly to avoid action against them.

University sources told Dawn that Dr Mujawar Hussain Shah, ex-controller examination, and Dr Maqbool, former chairman of Biology department, who had been held responsible for violating university rules after the initial inquiry findings, had asked the QAU vice-chancellor to accept their resignations.

Apparently, submitting of resignations aims at avoiding disciplinary action, as both of them are in final years of their services, the sources said.

If their resignations are accepted at this stage, the initial decision of the syndicate, under which they had been suspended, will stand null and void.

In this regard, a second meeting of the syndicate was held here on Saturday to take final decision in this regard, the sources said.

Sources privy to the syndicate said amidst heated discussion—whether to accept their resignations or not— the body remained divided till the time its members starting leaving the committee room.

However, if the resignations are accepted by the syndicate without completion of inquiry proceedings, it will mean formal winding up of the case.

Meanwhile, the QAU Academic Staff Association (ASA) passed a resolution on Friday, demanding disciplinary action against the accused. It also questioned calling of the syndicate meeting within such a short period — second time in one week — as minutes of the meeting held on April 5 were yet to be released.

“Until the minutes of these meetings are officially released, next meeting of the body cannot be called,” it added.

The ASA general-secretary, Dr Mohammad Ishaq, told Dawn that it would be unfair if the syndicate refrained from taking any further action in this regard and did not set a precedent to discourage recurrence of such acts in future.

“In the best interest of the QAU and to salvage its prestige, the syndicate should complete the inquiry proceedings to punish those who had committed this act.”