GILGIT, Feb 7: The Karakoram International University may return to the education department the academic staff, including some professors, who had joined the KIU in 2003 when they were offered a choice before abolition of the Gilgit Postgraduate College, to join the Northern Areas education department.

Sources said the new vice-chancellor and the KIU syndicate were not satisfied with the performance of the staff and some professors and assistant professors’ of the education department were working as treasurer, controller, deputy controller of examination, deputy registrar and chairmen of the departments in the university.

The sources said that according to the requirements of the Higher Education Commission, the teachers were to produce academic papers. However most of the professors and lecturers were unable to meet the requirement.

They said a broader committee had been formed to investigate the matter and decide about the future of the temporary staff.

They indicated that Dean of Sciences Dr Mohammad Saleem Khan would be retained at the KIU as his retirement was due in the current year.

They also said the Chairman of the Chemistry Department Dr Mir Ahmad Jan, who had joined the KIU from the education department, had been removed from his post.