BZU sub-campus: Court seeks record of Zaeem Qadri’s appointment

Questions lawmaker’s authority for approving establishment of Lahore campus

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has sought the record of Zaeem Qadri’s appointment as the chief minister’s special assistant on education, questioning the lawmaker’s authority for approving the establishment of Bahaudin Zakaria University’s sub-campus in Lahore back in 2012.

On Thursday, the LHC full bench headed by Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi also asked the Punjab advocate general to inform the court under what law Zaeem had signed the summary for approval of the BZU Multan sub-campus. Instead of responding to the court’s queries, however, the AGP requested the bench to give some time to explain the alleged role of the provincial minister.

Allowing the AG’s request for time, the bench observed the minister, who was present in court, must appear in the next hearing as well.

The judges asked the law officer to come up with the complete record of Zaeem’s appointment as the CM’s special assistant and his powers.

The court also asked the law officer to explain that why the names of people, who gave approval to the sub-campus, were not included in the NAB reference.

The bench barred the NAB court from deciding the reference and directed the Punjab government to furnish the record of all varsities with sub-campuses in the province.

The hearing was adjourned until January 25.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2017.