Six former AWKUM staffers indicted

Suspects, including former VC, to stand trial over ‘illegal’ appointments

PESHAWAR: An accountability court on Thursday indicted six former staffers of the Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM) for their alleged involvement in illegal appointments at the varsity.

The accused include its former vice chancellor Dr Ihsan Ali, former director administration Anwar Khan, former examinations controller Pir Abdul Jabbar, former registrar Sher Ali, and two other staffers.

The Ehtesaab court had indicted the accused after a reference was filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against them for the alleged illegal appointment of 652 people at the varsity from basic pay scale grade 17 through 20 in both the faculty and the administration of the varsity from 2009 to 2012.

The court was further told that in 2009, the accused as many as 30 posts in BPS-17 and above had been filled without following the rules.

Dr Ihsan Ali, who was the project director and then the VC of newly established AWKUM University, is the main accused. The NAB reference as it provides that the candidates were shortlisted against the merit and on behest of Dr Ihsan Ali.

“With ulterior motives,” alleged the NAB reference. “Dr Ihsan Ali has changed the composition of the university’s selection committee to select his favourites.

The accountability court was told that the accused persons haven’t followed the criteria and rulers in the selection process of employees of the university, says it was proved during the investigation. “They have published misleading advertisements for the appointments of BPS-17 and above with ulterior motive.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2018.