NAB opens probe into illegal appointments at University of Haripur

Executive board meeting of bureau had approved inquiry in July

HARIPUR: Nearly three months after an inquiry was authorised, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chapter of the National Accountability Bureau (NA) has finally started investigations into allegations of financial irregularities and illegal appointments at the University of Hazara (UoH).

According to sources, the anti-graft body will question Assistant Registrar Aibak Khan, Assistant Registrar (Academic) Rashid Mahmood and the IT project director of the university, Dr Nasir Ali Khan, and some other officials of the university.

A July meeting of the executive board of NAB had approved the inquiry into the irregularities reported from the UoH. An official said that the accountability bureau had been quietly doing its homework o collect evidence in the case and was now expected to go after top officials of the university.

“Some arrests are also expected,” an official said while requesting anonymity.

Sources said that there was a single opening for a professor in the Agriculture Department of the varsity, however, two people, Dr Ayub and Dr Abid Fareed, were allegedly hired for the post.

Interestingly, Dr Fareed, who faces a NAB inquiry, was reportedly promoted as the acting vice-chancellor of the varsity.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 10^th, 2017.