Committee formed to probe LCWU VC’s eligibility

Body will reach its decision in 10 days; position challenged by former VC

LAHORE: A committee has been formed by the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to examine the eligibility of the newly-appointed Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) Vice Chancellor Dr Uzma Qureshi. Her position came into question after another candidate for the slot, Dr Rukhsana Kausar, challenged it.

The notification, marked top priority, read, “the Chief minister is pleased to form the following committee which shall examine the representation submitted by Dr Rukhsana Kausar, ex-vice Chancellor of the Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) with regard to the candidature and deficiency in the qualification of Dr Uzma Qureshi in her appointment as the vice chancellor of LCWU, Lahore.”



The committee comprises Dr Zafar Iqbal Qureshi as chairman, Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) Chairman Dr Nizamuddin, Dr Umar Saif, and Higher Education Department (HED) Secretary Nasim Nawaz as members. The latter will be the secretary of the same committee. All four members are also part of the Search Committee that vetted all the candidates for the vice chancellor’s position.

“The Committee shall examine the matter in detail and strictly in accordance with the law/rules. It shall furnish its recommendations with regard to the representation made by Dr Rukhsana Kausar within 10 days, positively. Further necessary action may be taken accordingly,” the notification further said. According to an official privy to the matter, the committee was expected to convene in the coming week and would ask Dr Qureshi to appear before it with all the necessary documents.



Dr Qureshi was appointed as vice chancellor of LCWU 29 through a notification of the Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) on May. The notification stated Dr Uzma Qureshi was appointed as the vice chancellor for a term of four years.  However, the notification stated the decision was subject to the final decision of a representation filed by Dr Rukhsana Kausar to the HED.

The notification also said that the terms and conditions of the appointment of Dr Uzma Qureshi would be notified separately. It said that the provisional appointment of Dr Rukhsana by the Lahore High Court (LHC) came to an end with immediate effect.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2017.