ISLAMABAD: A petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) challenging the appointment of Dr Ahmed Yousaf Al Draiweesh as President International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI).

The petition alleged that Dr Draiweesh could not improve overall environment of the university during his six-year tenure, which is illegal as Board of Trustees can appoint a President for a term not exceeding than four years.

As Dr Draiweesh knows only Arabic language, he could not communicate with students, and to overcome his weakness, he has got a number of interpreters appointed, who have taken it upon themselves to run university affairs as per their own whims and wishes, the petition stated.

According to the petition, IIUI’s incumbent President has constructed a building (commonly known as Khaima) allegedly on the government and the university land.

“No permission or approval was obtained from Board of Governors of IIUI for this purpose,” the petition said.

The contract of the building was given without following government rules, the petition said, adding source(s) of financing for its construction is also not known, and finances received for its construction were never put on IIUI’s finance department record.

During his tenure a number of illegal appointments including those of management and professors were made, the petition further alleged.

The petition requested the court to disqualify Dr Draiweesh as President of the IIUI and a competitive process be initiated for induction of new President.

IHC Justice Athar Minallah issued notices to secretary President of Pakistan, Chairman Higher Education Commission, Rector IIUI and Dr Darweish and sought their reply within two weeks.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2018