SAHIWAL: Sardar Saleem Hyder Khan, Punjab Governor and Chancellor of the University of Sahiwal (UoS), has reinstated by revising major penalties imposed on Dr Shafiq Hussain, associate professor and former chairman of the computer science department who faced charges of misconduct, misuse of authority, harassment and financial embezzlement of Rs 17 million in library book purchases.
The decision was taken by the governor after hearing Dr Hussain’s appeal against two separate orders passed by the UoS Syndicate on March 3 and 4, 2026. Acting under Section 10(5) of the University of Sahiwal Act 2015 and Section 16(1), 2(b), 2 (c) of the Peeda Act 2006, the governor issued the order on May 21 last.
Dr Hussain had joined the UoS as assistant professor in 2015 and was promoted to associate professor rank in 2020.
According to the governor’s order, during the tenure of Dr Zikriya Zakir, Vice Chancellor of the University of Okara, who was given additional charge of UoS, Dr Hussain was appointed Project Director of Rs 1.4 billion HED-funded development projects on his “personal request”.
The teacher faced charges of misconduct, misuse of authority, harassment and financial embezzlement
In 2023, complaints were referred against him both from the Higher Education Department and other sources, alleging political involvement, misuse of resources, abuse of authority, and serious financial irregularities in the purchase of library books worth Rs17 million.
It was also alleged that being project director Dr Hussain awarded contract to his crony’s company -- the lone bidder -- while violating the procedure of competitive bidding by rejecting the tenders of other two. The syndicate consolidated three inquiries in September 2023, and their findings in October confirmed embezzlement and manipulation of library record, including missing and untraceable books having market value of Rs17 million.
Ignoring summons for a personal hearing in February 2026, Dr Hussain did not appear before the syndicate.
The syndicate unanimously imposed four major penalties under the Peeda Act 2006 -- reduction in rank from associate professor (BS-20) to assistant professor (BS-19) for five years, permanent ineligibility for administrative posts, dismissal from service, and recovery of financial losses with markup.
On Dr Hussain appeal, the Chancellor/Governor heard him on May 6, 2026, in the presence of university representatives, including sitting Vice Chancellor Dr Akhter Javed. The governor’s inquiry concluded that allegations of political involvement were influenced by personal circumstances and cultural factors, harassment charges were legally untenable as timetable adjustments and exam duty modifications were standard administrative measures, and the missing books were reported as physically present in room 4-G-11, academic block 02.
However, sources told Dawn that the governor did not seek third-party verification of the Rs17 million worth of books’ presence in university premises before finalising his decision.
It is in this background that governor revised major penalties under Section 16(2)(b) of the Peeda Act 2006 awarded to Dr Hussain by the university syndicate.
The governor set aside the reduction in rank, exonerated him from misconduct charges, dismissal from service was set aside and he was reinstated by reducing forfeiture of past service for five years, while the restriction on holding administrative positions was retained to prevent recurrence of irregularities.
VC Dr Javed Akhter told Dawn the UoS has received the decision copy which will be placed before the syndicate.
Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2026