Assurance: CM vows to cancel UET VC’s extension

Teachers to protest till official notification issued

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has announced the notification that sought to extend University of Engineering and Technology Vice Chancellor Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gillani’s term by three months will be cancelled.

Although the higher education department has not issued an official statement to denotify the extension, teachers who took to the streets against the decision lauded the move. The VC’s term expired on January 27 but on January 28, the higher education department extended it.

According to a handout issued by the CM Secretariat on Thursday, Khattak visited the protest camp along with K-P Government Spokesperson Mushtaq Ghani.

Addressing protesters on the occasion, the CM said educational institutes were “the future of the nation”.

As per the document, Khattak said the scrutiny committee will find a suitable candidate for the VC’s slot. “I hope the candidate recommended will fulfil the expectations of the staff and students,” Khattak was quoted as saying. “The government is strictly following a policy of non-interference in the affairs of institutes.”

Awaiting notification

According to the handout, the teachers called off their protests. However, Engineering University Teachers Association (EUTA) President Dr Abul Shakoor said they will continue to protest until an official notification of the VC’s removal has been issued. “We are still waiting for an official notification of the VC’s removal,” he said.

Boycott

EUTA boycotted classes after January 29 and protested at UET against the decision to extend the VC’s 12-year-long term by another three months.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th,  2016.