QAU staffers block varsity’s transport unit

COMSATS employees allege corruption by top honchos

ISLAMABAD: In another show of their defiance to force out the vice chancellor, some teachers of the Quaid-i-Azam University on Sunday blocked its transportation unit and access routes.

The blockade came after a decision taken by the Quaid-i-Azam University Academic Staff Association (ASA) to lock down the transport unit and entryways as part of its boycott.

The impasse at QAU has been going on for the past six weeks with disgruntled faculty members demanding the resignation of Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Ashraf for his alleged inability to manage the affairs of the varsity and nepotism.

ASA President Dr Aqeel Bokhari on Sunday referred to a high-level inquiry ordered by Pakistan President last year which declared Vice Chancellor Dr Ashraf as responsible for the university’s degradation and demanded his removal from the post.

Dr Bokhari said that the faculty was adamant over its stance and will not be deterred by alleged threats from the VC.



Late last week, Dr Ashraf, in a detailed letter, had given a point-wise response to the allegations levelled against him by the faculty.

In the letter, Dr Ashraf pointed out how the varsity had become the top-ranked university in the country and had accused the faculty of conspiring against him and levelling false allegations after he halted promotions of some teachers.

Dr Bokhari, in his rebuttal, said that the VC’s defence failed to address fundamental issues and misdoings.

“The VC failed to bring up the inquiry conducted against him which held him guilty of the maladministration. He also did not mention how he invested the university’s money in a low-ranking bank,” Dr Bokhari said.

“The VC tried to run the institution tyrannically by sending all senior officials of the university on forced leave or deterring and harassing them,” he said, adding that Dr Aliya, the Dean of Social Sciences was forced to retire while the registrar and the controller examinations are on forced leaves and the university has no permanent treasurer. “For the past year, the university has been dysfunctional and in a sorry state. Dr Ashraf has promoted a disorganised and illogical system to serve his nefarious designs,” the ASA president alleged.

COMSATS irregularity

Meanwhile, staffers at the COMSATS university have criticised the ad-hoc, stop-gap management running the institution which has now been plagued with corruption allegations.

According to a letter written by COMSATS faculty and staff, seven members of the varsity’s Board of Governors, including rector, four directors, the registrar and the treasurer are working on acting-charge.

They alleged that the acting rector, working since the seat fell vacant last year was allegedly taking major discriminatory decisions such as promotions and terminations in violation of the orders of the Supreme Court. They claimed that the rector had allegedly terminated 120 employees who have been working at the university for the past decade. These people, the statement claimed, had been replaced by people who lack basic qualifications and were political hires.

The employees said that they had already filed complaints regarding mismanagement of funds which had been pointed out by the AGPR during an audit of the National Testing Service (NTS). Moreover, they expressed concerns over the recent allegations of corruption in NTS.

They claimed that with the rector the chairman of NTS’ board, he had appointed a retired director of COMSATS’ Wah Campus, to look after NTS’ affairs

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2018.