On-going tussle: SHC reserves verdict on appointment of DUHS vice-chancellor

Petitioners challenge governor’s authority to change CM’s recommendations

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) reserved on Tuesday its verdict on different petitions on the controversy regarding appointment of the vice chancellor of one of the country’s largest public medical university - the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS).

A division bench, comprising Justices Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Anwar Hussain, reserved the verdict after hearing arguments from the parties.

The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) had filed separate petitions challenging the appointment of Professor Masood Hameed Khan as vice-chancellor (VC) of the varsity and then the appointment of Dr Noushad Ali Sheikh as acting VC.



In both the petitions, the governor’s authority to make amendments to the recommendations made by the chief minister for appointment of the varsity’s vice-chancellor was called into question.

The controversy regarding appointment had started after DUHS VC completed his third tenure in September last year. Later, he was re-appointed as acting vice-chancellor of the varsity.

PMA pointed out that a search committee was constituted to look for a suitable candidate for the post. It had interviewed 12 candidates, of which three were finalised.

According to the petitioner, the chief minister had recommended three candidates with Dr Saeed Qureshi on the top of the list, but the governor later appointed Dr Sheikh on the post.

The court was pleaded to declare appointment of Dr Sheikh as illegal and suspend the same.

On Tuesday, the two-judges heard final arguments from the parties and reserved their verdict. The decision will be announced later.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd,  2016.