Teachers accuse PU VC of manipulating polls

PU spokesperson says the impression that the management is backing or opposing certain groups of candidates is false

LAHORE: Opposition to the current management, especially against provisional Vice Chancellor Dr Zafar Mueen Nasir, was visible among the ranks of the Punjab University teachers’ community as the elections of the Academic Council was held at the varsity.



The elections to elect the Academic Council, which is tasked with advising the syndicate on every academic matter and establishing standards for instruction, research, publications and examinations among other things, were organised on Thursday.

The teachers’ group opposing the current administration secured 4 out of the total 5 seats in the elections. Dr Shahid Kamal of the Teachers’ Front secured a seat of the Planning and Finance Committee, while the second seat was won by Dr Hassan Mobeen Alam.

Similarly, for the Advanced Studies and Research Board, Dr Fakharul Haq Noori, Dr Amir Ijaz and Dr Javed Iqbal Qazi of the Teachers’ Front were successful. The administration barred Dr Sajid Rashid and Dr Mahboob Hussain of the Teachers’ Front from contesting the elections.

The Teachers’ Front blamed the vice chancellor of manipulating and sabotaging the peaceful process of the election by declaring two of its candidates ineligible. They called the move sheer violence of the university calendar.

When contacted, Punjab University spokesperson said that the impression that the varsity management was backing or opposing certain groups of candidates was false. He added that the whole election process was held according to the rules and regulations of the university calendar.

The election is part of a string of events highlighting the administrative divide between the administration and the teachers’ community in the absence of a permanent vice chancellor.

Bachelor’s level medical programmes

Meanwhile on Friday, the Academic Council in its first meeting approved bachelor’s level medical programmes MBBS and BDS along with curriculum as taught at the King Edward Medical University for the academic session 2017.

The meeting was chaired by Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zafar Mueen Nasir, in which PU Registrar Dr Muhammad Khalid Khan, heads of academic departments and professors participated.



The medical programmes (HEC Level-6, 7 and 8 and PMDC level-1, 2, 3 and 4) would be offered under the Punjab University’s Faculty of Health Sciences, formerly known as Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.

Addressing the meeting, Dr Zafar said that PU administration was aiming to establish a state-of-the-art medical college and hospital and it would provide the best health services to the people. He said that the varsity administration was making efforts to revise curriculum of all academic programmes on modern lines.

The meeting also approved establishment of a Nursing College. The meeting approved several agenda items regarding recommendations of board of studies of all faculties regarding revision of curriculum and other related matters.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2017.