LARKANA: Prof Dr Noor Ahmed Khoso, principal of the Bibi Aseefa Dental College, a constituent unit of the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU), resigned on Friday after a pro­longed row with the VC of the SMBBMU over recognition of the college by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and students’ protest.

Mr Khoso confirmed to Dawn on Friday the vice chancellor’s indifference to the college’s issues had compelled him to step down.

The resignation might also be linked to a protest by a group of students over cancellation of the college’s recognition by the PMDC which had further widened the gulf between the principal and the VC, said sources.

He said that he had no option but to resign as his repeated reminders to the VC for resolution of different issues were consigned to the dust bin. He said that the letters he sent to the VC were not responded to and when he tried to meet him he was not granted time. He made efforts to bring in senior faculty to get the college recognised but the university management was not serious about getting the college recognised which was de-recognised on Dec 28, 2015.

SMBBMU VC Prof Dr Ghulam Asghar Channa said: “One should not resign over a small-scale protest by students, instead one should find out solutions.

“We are in contact with the PMDC over the issue. We’ve not received a reply yet but the council has verbally allowed us to make new admission in the college,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2016