KU’s Benazir chair director challenges removal, says varsity has stopped salaries

Govt audit indicates Sahar Gull Bhatti’s appointment was against the rules

KARACHI: The controversy surrounding the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Chair (SMBBC)at the University of Karachi (KU) and the administration’s stance on the removal of its director is getting more complex with each passing day.

The director of the chair, Sahar Gull Bhatti, who was removed by the university on the completion of her two-year tenure, claims the varsity’s syndicate extended her tenure by another two years. She has taken the KU administration to court for removing her from her post.

In order to highlight the issues, Bhatti held a press conference on Wednesday at the Karachi Press Club. She was accompanied by her employees, whose salaries had been stopped.

"I appeal to the chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and all the competent authorities to take notice of this and investigate the matter so that the [KU] administration can be stopped from exploiting this important institute named after Benazir Bhutto," said Bhatti, adding that after June 8, when the Sindh High Court issued a stay order on her removal, the university administration refused to sign off the daily bills and salaries of her employees.

"Eid is coming up and our employees are not being paid," she lamented. Bhatti accused the KU administration of stopping their salaries because she took them to court.



The university administration is involved in misappropriating funds, she claimed, adding that the varsity has hired incompetent and unqualified consultants and has paid additional and illegal amounts to these consultants. Bhatti also accused the administration of transferring illegal funds to the university account and said the former director of the chair, who is the current director of the Shah Abdul Latif Chair, transferred a tender security fee to his own account and, despite the presence of the current director of the chair, the former director kept spending chair funds.

"These misappropriations are also mentioned in the 2016-17 audit report," she pointed out.

She also said that since she has joined she has been facing issues. "I was appointed on merit through a proper procedure of advertisement, shortlisting, interviews and appointment letter," she added.

Claiming that the former director was involved in the matters of the Benazir chair, Bhatti said that despite her presence, he illegally issues cheque worth millions. "He released a sum of Rs6.1 million to the university, which is both illegal and against the rules," she claimed.



Bhatti told the press conference that initially her tenure was of two years but on December 29, 2016 it was extended to four years by the syndicate. Despite this approval the university removed her on the basis that she had completed her two-year tenure, she lamented.

Audit

The director-general of the Sindh Audit has, however, found that Bhatti’s appointment is against the rules and regulations, as she does not possess the required experience.

The DG conducted a special audit of SMBBC and Convention Centre from 2009 to 2016 and has found the appointment of the incumbent director was against the rules. The report states that the advertisement of the post, dated January 18, 2015, was found but there was no list of the number of applicants or shortlisted candidates.

There was also no notification of the selection committee found. Bhatti was shortlisted but did not have 15 years teaching or research guidance experience, as required in the advertisement, “which seems an undue favour to the candidate whereas Shuja Ahmed [Bhatti’s competitor] possessed a Master’s degree and PhD from London and has 15 or more years’ experience”.



The main objectives of the audit were to review the chair's performance, assess whether the chair was managed with due regard to economy and efficiency and to review compliance with applicable rules, regulations and procedures.

In 2008, the Government of Sindh established the SMBBC at KU with the aim of undertaking the research on the vision and mission of Benazir.

During review of Bhatti’s accounts up to 2015-16, it was observed that supervision construction contract of Rs7.94 million was awarded to M/s Shahzad Associates for supervision consultancy against the provision at 2% of the contract cost of Rs5.29 million in the PC-I. Hence, the excess of Rs2.65 million was awarded without approval of competent forum.

The auditor general has recommended a detailed inquiry into the matter.



The report says that during the audit it was observed that funds of Rs6.15 million were drawn from the assignment account and deposited into university account to avoid lapse of funds, which is illegal. The report also states that during the review of the director’s accounts, it was observed that advance payment of Rs1.88 million was made on account of purchase of fixed assets as a work order was issued on June 14, 2015 but a contract agreement was not signed.

During the audit it was also found that Bhatti had been offered and paid a lump sum package of Rs1,920,000 as salary during 2015 and 2016 without approval of the syndicate, whereas her predecessor was getting a salary of Rs130,000.

Bhatti has rejected the audit report and said that it was conducted just three months after she took charge. “They blame me for what previous management has done in their tenure. I have done the work in a transparent way and can show you all the papers,” she told The Express Tribune.