Dr Saeed Qureshi assumes charge of DUHS VC amid political differences
Governor House appoints Dr Qureshi despite the CM being the appointing authority
After much controversy, Prof Dr Saeed Qureshi appointed VC for four-year tenure. PHOTO: EXPRESS
KARACHI:
Amid differences between the chief minister and Sindh governor over the appointment of the vice-chancellor (VC) of the biggest medical university, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Prof Dr Saeed Qureshi assumed charge as the VC on Tuesday.
According to a notification issued by the Governor House on April 29, Dr Qureshi was appointed as the VC for the next four years while he assumed charge of his post on May 2, taking the charge from pro-VC Prof Khawar Saeed Jamali who also had an additional charge of the VC.
Since the university got its permanent VC after 20 months as Prof Dr Masood Hameed Khan completed his second tenure as VC on September 15, 2015, the matter has become a different tug of war.
Permanent DUHS vice-chancellor finally appointed after 20 months
The CM House sent a summary to the governor, who is also the chancellor of the varsity, to appoint Prof Dr Umar Farooq as the DUHS VC for a period of four years on May 1. The summary is in supersession of the chief minister's earlier recommendation, which named Dr Qureshi to be appointed as the VC. Dr Farooq's name was second on the search committee merit list.
Meanwhile, the Governor House has notified and appointed Dr Qureshi, who was on top of the merit list of the search committee, after interviewing 12 candidates for the post of VC. However, the CM, not the governor, is the appointing authority on the university VC's.
Dr Qureshi was a deserving candidate and a favourite of the government. Confusion remains on what made the CM remove him and put forward Dr Farooq's name as the VC.
Dow varsity VC: SHC orders search for new candidate
Dr Qureshi has assumed charge of the post according to the governor's notification, which has set aside the CM's orders.
After the appointment, Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) organised a press conference on the matter because PMA had taken the issue to the Sindh High Court twice when the former Sindh governor, Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, appointed Noshad Shaikh out of turn and when Dr Masood was performing his duties as the VC for the third tenure.
"Today is the day that a VC took charge of the institution purely on merit, which was probably for the first time in the history of Sindh," said PMA's former general-secretary, Mirza Ali Azhar.
SHC summons CM's universities and boards secretary tomorrow
He pointed out that according to the Universities Law, a VC cannot work after completing their two terms. However, Dr Masood, after completing his two terms, continued illegally in connivance of the then governor, he said.
Political interference in the affairs of institutions brings disasters and that is what was happening in DUHS since September 2015, Azhar said.
The previous CM sent two summaries to the governor for appointment of VC on merit but Dr Ebad rejected those summaries and illegally appointed men of his choice.
Long-serving VC of Dow varsity removed
"It was expected from the new CM, Syed Murad Ali Shah, that he will follow merit and the rule of law, but unfortunately that did not happen," he said, adding that the SHC's decision solved the matter of the appointment of a VC.
Amid differences between the chief minister and Sindh governor over the appointment of the vice-chancellor (VC) of the biggest medical university, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Prof Dr Saeed Qureshi assumed charge as the VC on Tuesday.
According to a notification issued by the Governor House on April 29, Dr Qureshi was appointed as the VC for the next four years while he assumed charge of his post on May 2, taking the charge from pro-VC Prof Khawar Saeed Jamali who also had an additional charge of the VC.
Since the university got its permanent VC after 20 months as Prof Dr Masood Hameed Khan completed his second tenure as VC on September 15, 2015, the matter has become a different tug of war.
Permanent DUHS vice-chancellor finally appointed after 20 months
The CM House sent a summary to the governor, who is also the chancellor of the varsity, to appoint Prof Dr Umar Farooq as the DUHS VC for a period of four years on May 1. The summary is in supersession of the chief minister's earlier recommendation, which named Dr Qureshi to be appointed as the VC. Dr Farooq's name was second on the search committee merit list.
Meanwhile, the Governor House has notified and appointed Dr Qureshi, who was on top of the merit list of the search committee, after interviewing 12 candidates for the post of VC. However, the CM, not the governor, is the appointing authority on the university VC's.
Dr Qureshi was a deserving candidate and a favourite of the government. Confusion remains on what made the CM remove him and put forward Dr Farooq's name as the VC.
Dow varsity VC: SHC orders search for new candidate
Dr Qureshi has assumed charge of the post according to the governor's notification, which has set aside the CM's orders.
After the appointment, Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) organised a press conference on the matter because PMA had taken the issue to the Sindh High Court twice when the former Sindh governor, Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, appointed Noshad Shaikh out of turn and when Dr Masood was performing his duties as the VC for the third tenure.
"Today is the day that a VC took charge of the institution purely on merit, which was probably for the first time in the history of Sindh," said PMA's former general-secretary, Mirza Ali Azhar.
SHC summons CM's universities and boards secretary tomorrow
He pointed out that according to the Universities Law, a VC cannot work after completing their two terms. However, Dr Masood, after completing his two terms, continued illegally in connivance of the then governor, he said.
Political interference in the affairs of institutions brings disasters and that is what was happening in DUHS since September 2015, Azhar said.
The previous CM sent two summaries to the governor for appointment of VC on merit but Dr Ebad rejected those summaries and illegally appointed men of his choice.
Long-serving VC of Dow varsity removed
"It was expected from the new CM, Syed Murad Ali Shah, that he will follow merit and the rule of law, but unfortunately that did not happen," he said, adding that the SHC's decision solved the matter of the appointment of a VC.