KP govt refuses to notify selected 19 VCs of universities

PESHAWAR: Despite the approval of the caretaker cabinet and security clearance, the PTI-led KP government has refused to notify the selected vice-chancellors for 19 universities. The controversy between the stakeholders has intensified.

The posts of vice-chancellors of 24 universities in the province are lying vacant. The Supreme Court had already declared that the candidate on the top of merit would be appointed as vice chancellor.

The Academic Search Committee had called the candidates for interview from January 23 to January 26, 2024. The committee had selected a panel of three candidates for each seat. The caretaker provincial cabinet approved the summary submitted by the Higher Education Department through circulation after following all formalities. Security agencies have also given clearance to the candidates.

Provincial Minister of Higher Education Meena Khan says the caretaker government did not have the authority to form the Academic and Search Committee, nor did the committee have the right to select vice-chancellors during the caretaker government. The previous chairman and three search committee members resigned during the caretaker government and new members were illegally notified by the caretaker government.

He said the caretaker provincial government approved the appointments by exceeding its authority. “This issue will be considered in the provincial cabinet very soon and the cabinet will review the recruitment process because there have been serious objections and complaints about the recruitment process,” he said.

The ASC submitted a panel of three names for each university and the same was approved by the caretaker government. Official documents revealed that Prof Dr. Tahir Irfan Khan, Prof Dr. M. Idrees and Prof Dr. Syed Qaisar Shah were selected as the first, second, and third candidates for the Abbottabad University of Science and Technology University.

Similarly, Prof Dr. M. Zafar Iqbal, Prof Dr. Mohsin Nawaz and Prof Dr. M. Naeem Khan were selected as first, second and third candidates for Gomal University DI Khan respectively. The committee sent three names for Khushal Khan Khattak University, Karak, including Prof Dr M. Tahir Khalili first, Prof Dr. Syed Islam second and Prof Dr. Abdul Naeem Khan at the third position.

The committee selected a panel including Prof Dr. Zulfiqar Ali, Prof Dr. Ahmed Ur Rehman and Prof Dr. M Latif for the University of Agriculture, DIK.

Likewise, Prof Dr. Aurangzeb Khan, Prof Dr. Ajab Khan and Prof Dr. Malik Mujdad Ur Rehman for the University of the Lakki Marwat, Prof Dr. M Ali, Prof Dr Shahid Mehmood Baig and Prof Dr. Ikram Ullah Khan for the Hazara University of Manshera, Prof Dr Gul M Khan, Prof Dr. Atta Ullah Shah and Prof Dr. M Salman Tahir for the University of Engineering and Technology Mardan were selected as the first, second and third candidates.

The search committee recommended Prof Dr. Qaisar, Prof Dr. Iftikhar Hussain and Prof Dr. Bashir Alam for the University of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Swat, and Prof Dr Dawood Jan, Prof Dr Khalid Nawab and Prof Dr. Hamayun Khan were selected for the University of Agriculture, Swat, as the first, second and third candidates. The University of Shangla panel included Prof Dr. Sardar Khan, Prof Dr. Gul Zaman and Prof Dr. M Tariq Javed while for the University of Veteran and Animal Sciences, Swat, Prof Dr. Shakib Ullah, Prof Dr. M Imran Rasheed and Prof Dr. Sarzameen Khan. Prof Dr Johar Ali, Prof Dr Nasir Jamal and Dr Iftikhar Ahmed were selected as the first, second, and third candidates for the post of vice-chancellor of the University of Peshawar.

Prof Dr. M Sadiq, Prof Dr. M Inayat Ullah Khan and Prof Dr. Sahar Noor for the University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Prof Dr. Jameel Ahmad, Prof Dr Farkhanda Zia and Prof Dr. Hussain Shaheed Soharwardi for Abdul Wali Khan were recommended as the first, second and third candidates for the post of VC of the University of Mardan.

Similarly, Prof Dr. Zahoor Ul Haq, Prof Dr. Gul Majeed and Prof Dr. Khan Alam were selected for the Bacha Khan University of Charsadda, Prof Dr. Syed Badshah, Prof Dr. Shahid Khattak and Prof Dr. Khan Shahzada for Shuhada APS University Nowshera, Prof Dr. Syed Zafar Ilyas, Prof Dr M Zubair Iqbal and Prof Dr Abdul Jabar Shah was selected for Kohat University of Science and Technology.

A three-panel for the University of Engineering and Technology Bannu was forwarded including Prof Dr. Jahanzeb Khan, Prof Dr. Syed Waqar Ali Shah and Prof Dr. Zeeshan Zeb while another panel for Women’s University of Swabi was recommended including Prof Dr. Ghazala Yasmeen, Prof Dr. Bushra Khan and Prof Dr. Razia Sultana as first, second and third candidates for the post of VC. The Supreme Court of Pakistan has declared in the Mustafa Impex case that the Search Committee shall submit three names of the candidates who were shortlisted and interviewed for a post in order of merit. The person who stands first in the merit shall be appointed as vice chancellor except if the government has any reason not to appoint him which reasons shall be recorded in writing. Such reasons and validity shall always be justiciable in the court of law.