Appointment of VCs a dilemma since Dr Asim’s arrest

Dr Qaiser of KU completes his term on Tuesday

KARACHI:

Universities of Sindh continue to be in a state of limbo due to former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain's arrest as he was the convener of the search committee that assists in the appointment of the vice-chancellors (VCs).

The heads of all the major universities have either completed their tenures or are close to completing them. However, the procedure of appointing new VCs has become cumbersome.

KU, IBA ad delays

Karachi University (KU) VC Prof Dr Muhammad Qaiser's tenure as varsity head will end on February 9, having taken charge on February 10, 2012. Meanwhile, Institute of Business Administration (IBA) dean and director Dr Ishrat Hussain will complete his tenure on March 12.



Advertisements have been published by Chief Minister (CM) House for the appointment of a new VC and dean and director of KU and IBA, respectively, on January 27. The initial advertisement read that the candidate with a doctorate from the social sciences department will be given priority. However, according to Sindh government universities and boards secretary, Iqbal Durrani, this was changed to all disciplines. Durrani told The Express Tribune that a corrected advertisement for IBA was published on February 4 but a corrected ad has yet to be published for KU.

Durrani admitted the ads were supposed to be published in December but could not be due to some errors in them. The procedure from the applications' submission to the appointment of VC takes around two months and the last date of submission of applications is February 15.



"It will only take around a month to complete the procedure and appoint the VC," said Durrani, adding that until then an acting VC will be appointed by CM House. "We will be sending three names on the basis of seniority and the CM will select any one for the post of acting VC."

Talking about the amendments in the search committee since Dr Asim's arrest, Durrani said that former Sindh chief secretary Fazalur Rehman has been added to the team that already comprises the chancellor of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology, Azra Pechuho, the former VC of Sindh University, Mazharul Haq Siddiqui, the executive director of Higher Education Commission, Prof Dr Ghulam Raza Bhatti, and Durrani.

DUHS

The appointment of the VC of Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) also made headlines when the court issued orders against the illegal appointment of Dr Noshad A Shaikh on December 1. After the court order, the VC will now be appointed by the chancellor or the CM, said the secretary of universities and boards, adding that DUHS has had an acting VC for the last two months.

Prof Dr Masood Hameed Khan, who has already completed his three terms as VC, is now the acting VC. While it is stated in the Sindh Universities and Institutes Laws (Amendment) Act 2014 that the VC is appointed by the government for a period of four years, it may be extended for one more term on such terms and conditions as the government may determine.

Dr Khan was appointed after the tug of war on Dr Shaikh's illegal appointment. His appointment was illegal as he was simultaneously holding charges of two different universities, as he was already working as the VC of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences.

SMIU

Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) will get Dr Muhammad Ali Shaikh as its VC on February 3 for the second term. He has been granted extension as the VC for one more term of four years by the chancellor of the university, governor Dr Ishratul Ebad, on the recommendations of CM Qaim Ali Shah. The appointment has been made in accordance with the Sindh Madressatul Islam University Act 2011.

Change of procedure

The president of Karachi University Teachers' Society, Dr Shakeel Farooqui, said the appointment of the VC was done through the Governor House previously. "There is a serious conflict between [the] governor and [the] CM on the issue of appointments of VCs in universities," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2016.