MULTAN: A professor in contention for the Bahauddin Zakariya University vice chancellor slot and remained involved in the entire selection process spanning over months learnt at the eleventh hour – when the Higher Education Department notified his selection on Thursday – that he cannot leave Islamabad and relocate to Multan.

In his letter to the governor/chancellor on Friday, Dr Arshad Saleem Bhatti said that he could not displace himself from Islamabad due to his “pressing family matters”.

The Higher Education Department issued the appointment orders of Dr Bhatti, Dean Faculty of Sciences, Comsats University, Islamabad, as BZU VC. He was asked to join the office within seven days.

Dr Bhatti who could not appear before the chief minister for a final interview on July 8 had written a letter to the HED Secretary wherein he sought new schedule (for the interview) by the end of July.

The HED, however, did not arrange the interview and issued his appointment letter on Thursday. Dawn tried to contact Dr Bhatti and the HED secretary on Friday to get their comments but their cell phones were switched off.

Dr Bhatti was among 15 people shortlisted by the search committee for the BZU slot and he was third on the merit list.

However, he was placed at the top in the panel of three candidates. The remaining two panelists were Dr Mansoor Akbar Kundi (9th on list) and Dr Arshad Ali (13th), respectively.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2019