IHC issues notice to IIUI President Al Draiweesh

Petition challenges appointment of IIUI president

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court(IHC) Friday sought reply from respondents in a case challenging the extension of President Islamic International University Islamabad (IIUI) Dr Ahmed Yousif Al Draiweesh.

Justice Athar Minallah of IHC heard the case filed by Sajid Mehmood Shad through his counsel Khawar Ameer Bukhari.

Petitioner Shad, challenging the appointment of al Draiweesh as the president IIUI said that his tenure of six years is illegal, as Board of Trustees can appoint a president for a term not exceeding four years.

Al Draiweesh, misusing his powers and influence, got BS International Relations degree for his son in violation of all set rules and regulations, although he barely visited Pakistan during his degree programme, Shad said in the petition filed through his lawyer Khawar Ameer Bukhari.

The petition draws the attention of the court towards the fact that al Draiweesh can communicate in Arabic only, which deprives the faculty and students to communicate with him and to overcome his weakness, Draiweesh has appointed a number of interpreters who are running university affairs as per their own whims and wishes.

Draiweesh does not fulfil the minimum 15 years of teaching and research experience, minimum 15 research publications in HEC recognised journals of research, and PhD from any HEC recognised national or international institution, which is the minimum criteria for the appointment of a professor by HEC.

The IIUI president got constructed a building (commonly known as Khaima) at IRD guest house, which is the government and the university land. No
permission or approval was obtained from Board of Governors of IIUI for
this purpose. During his tenure, a stall of Israel was organized in IIUI, furthermore, the conflict of Gulf region also translated in IIUI, where a traditional Qatari Iftar dinner for the needy students of IIUI was called off at the last minute in 2017.

A number of illegal appointments including top management and professors were made during his tenure as president. IIUI president also pardoned the officials with proven financial embezzlement. The inquiry committees, during his time, used the tactics to linger on the matters and influential ones were never penalised, a typical case is of an associate professor who got appointed, despite the fact he was not fulfilling any of the basic requirements including the number of research articles. Surprisingly, the officials with short falls were extended up to 17 increments at the time of their appointment.

The petitioner claimed that al Draiweesh being a foreigner cannot hold any executive post in Pakistan.

The petitioner requested the court to disqualify Draiweesh. IHC issued notices were issued to secretary the president of Pakistan, HEC chairman, IIUI rector and Draiweesh for reply within two weeks.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2018.