Misconduct, corruption: KIU management, teachers trade allegations
Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Mehdi Shah has warned against interference in official matters and irregularities in Karakoram International University (KIU).
He said this during a meeting with a delegation from KIU that called on him at his secretariat on Wednesday to apprise him of the causes that led to the sacking of a teacher and putting three others on one year ‘conduct probation’, sources in the CM office told The Express Tribune.
However the four teachers separately met the CM and described the KIU management action as ‘injustice’ and accusing it of involved in corruption and nepotism.
The KIU delegation, led by Vice-Chancellor Dr Najma Najam justified the action against the teachers by presenting “documentary proof” against them to the CM, said an official requesting not to be named.
Chief Minister Shah assured the KIU team of his government’s support in maintaining law and order at all places including the university, said a press release issued by the KIU media cell on Wednesday. It said that the chief minister described the interference in KIU matters a serious breach of discipline and misconduct on the part of faculty members as the university is an independent entity, warning that nobody would be allowed to take the law into their hands.
Earlier the three teachers, against whom the university has taken action, also met the chief minister to apprise him of the ‘injustices’ done to them. They accused the VC and the management of corruption and nepotism.
The chief minister asked the professors not to take to streets as such behaviour is against the dignity of the teaching profession, said another press release issued by the chief minister media office.
The KIU on Monday sacked Assistant Professor Iftikhar Ali and put Sadaat Sher Khan, Shah Nawaz and Sajid Toori, on one year ‘conduct probation’ for harassing a woman colleague and instigating students against the KIU management.
Meanwhile, addressing a protest rally at KIU, Shah Nawaz said that the VC had taken action against them to cover up her own corruption. Iftikhar Ali used foul and unparliamentary language against the VC and KIU management while addressing the rally. However none of them contested the allegations including trying to dictate VC for favourable postings and promotions and harassing Sadia Baig, Head of International Relations Department. However when The Express Tribune later tried to contact them, their cell phones were powered off.
Iftikhar Ali and the three assistant professors accused the KIU selection board of tampering with results which led to the appointment of Sadia Baig as Head of the Department of International Relations, said an official.
“We have never seen teachers using students for personal gains, even in the long history of Punjab University,” said Shafiq Jullundhary, the Dean of Mass Communication Department at the university, who spent several years at Punjab University before joining KIU.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 19th, 2011.
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