In the running: Three contenders emerge for PU’s interim VC slot

Additional Registrar Dr Kamran Abid says the university has yet to receive any word from the authorities

LAHORE: Three candidates have come forward to take charge as Punjab University’s vice-chancellor for an interim period after the Lahore High Court decided to nullify the previous process of appointment.

The court has ordered the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to lay down the criteria of appointment of VCs and directed the Punjab government to appoint the senior-most professor of the varsity for the interim period.

Dr Muhammad Taqi Zahid Butt from the University College of Engineering and Emerging Technologies, Dr Shahid Kamal from the College of Statistical and Actuarial Sciences and Dr Muhammad Fakharul Haq Noori from the Department of Urdu are the contenders for the position of the acting vice-chancellor.

According to sources within the varsity, all three have been positioning themselves, as the current vice-chancellor, Dr Mujahid Kamran, is expected to step down from his position
any day after the Lahore High Court’s ruling.

Dr Taqi Zahid Butt has previously served as the acting vice-chancellor of Punjab University in the absence of the vice-chancellor and is the most-likely candidate to take over the helm of affairs at PU.

However, two more professors are now also in the running.

Dr Noori’s claim is based on the judgment of the Lahore High Court, which ordered that the longest serving professor of PU should take charge as the vice-chancellor for the interim period until a permanent appointment is announced.

“During the interregnum, while the process for the appointment of the vice-chancellors is being undertaken, the most senior professor in terms of length of service shall be appointed by the Government of the Punjab as vice-chancellor for the public-sector universities in respect of whom the appointments have to be made,” the court order states.

“The notification to this effect shall be issued within a period of seven days from the receipt of the order of this court.

This shall apply to the universities in which the tenures of the vice chancellors have come to an end and the vice chancellors are continuing in office on an acting-charge basis under the directives of the chancellor.”

When contacted, PU Public Information Officer and Additional Registrar Dr Kamran Abid told The Express Tribune that the university had yet to receive any word on the interim vice-chancellor by the provincial higher education authorities.

When asked about the length of service of all three contenders, he said Dr Taqi Zahid Butt joined the university on January 16, 1992, Dr Shahid Kamal on July 9, 1985 and Dr Noori joined on November 19, 1984.

The Express Tribune also contacted Dr Noori, who said, “In light of the judgment of the Lahore High Court, I should be appointed on the interim position.

However, I have not yet reached out to any one and will do so after a decision is taken by the relevant department.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2016.