LAHORE: In a surprising move, the Punjab University has appointed two National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) ‘tainted’ former vice chancellors as professor emeritus.

According to a notification, in exercise of the powers under section 26(2)(t) of the University of Punjab Act 1973, the syndicate at its meeting held on Oct 19, 2019 has appointed PU former VC Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran as full-time professor emeritus of Physics and Dr Muhammad Akram Chaudhry, former VC of University of Sargodha, as full-time professor emeritus of Arabic with immediate effect.

The university also appointed Dr Shahida Husnain, former VC of Women University, Multan, as full-time professor emeritus of Botany.

The decision to appoint two ‘NAB tainted’ former VCs raised many eyebrows. Both Kamran and Chaudhry faced NAB charges of illegal appointments and illegally establishing sub-campuses of the university.

A source said appointing professor of emeritus was thrice included in the agenda of the syndicate and the members had deferred it twice but for the third time they had directed the authorities for appointing them while the university took two months to issue notification.

He said the professor of emeritus would have to be given Rs125,000 per month honorarium and they would have to promote and supervise research in their respective departments.

It merits mentioning that three accused - former VC Prof Chaudhry and Lahore Campus shareholders Shafiq and Waris Nadeem - have done a plea bargain with the NAB.

The jailed accused for their release will collectively deposit more than Rs120 million with the NAB. The bureau has presented their application before the accountability court Judge Najamul Hassan.

NAB also had arrested ex-VC Prof Dr Kamran and four other former administrative officials over allegations of corruption, illegal appointments and nepotism. A NAB reference is filed against Kamran.

PU Registrar Dr Khalid Khan told Dawn that the university syndicate had directed to appoint professors of emeritus and they had followed its direction.

He said the Higher Education Commission (HEC) had developed the criteria for professor emeritus and under it a person who served a term of VC in any public sector university could be appointed [as professor emeritus].

He said the syndicate had recommended to appoint three people - Mr Kamran, Mr Akram and Ms Husnain as professors of emeritus.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2019