Bacha Khan University VC’s appointment who faces sexual harassment charges challenged

Petition filed in PHC states Dr Naqvi is no longer 'Sadiq' or 'Ameen' following case, hence, cannot be appointed as VC

SHABQADAR: The appointment of Bacha Khan University (BKU) Charsadda Vice Chancellor Dr Saqlain Naqvi was challenged on Monday in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) as he was convicted in a sexual assault case.

One of the varsity's employees, Shafiur Rehman, filed the petition through his advocates Muhib Jan and Muhammad Irshad, stating that the appointment was 'unlawful'.

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government had selected Professor  Naqvi for the position on June 9 for a three-year tenure.

The VC had been convicted in a sexual harassment case against a  female student while serving at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR).

The petition has challenged the BKU registrar, BKU academic search committee, Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, HEC department K-P and PMAS-AAUR.



The petition also stated that the professor is no longer Sadiq or Ameen following the case and, hence, cannot be appointed as VC.

It is argued that the appointment was based on political grounds as well as the preferences of authorities.

The petitioner prayed the court to declare the appointment null and void on these grounds.

According to a statement issued by Dr Naqvi, he has a non-objection certificate (NOC) from PMAS-AAUR.

The VC has also approached the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench to suspend the federal ombudsman decision against him on grounds of sexual harassment.

It is pertinent to mention that Dr Naqvi and the varsity staff are at loggerheads since his appointment.

Previously, the staff requested the registrar BKU not to issue his salary claiming he is unfit for the job.