Vested interests: SBBWU bars staffers from speaking to media

Says false and malicious campaign being run to defame the public sector university

PESHAWAR: In view of news circulating in the media pertaining to embezzlement of funds by the vice chancellor and registrar at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University Peshawar Larama Campus situated on Charsadda Road; the competent authority of the university has instructed all staffers to desist from speaking to the media otherwise disciplinary action would be taken against the responsible people

On the other hand the SBBWU Vice Chancellor Dr Razia Sultana told The Express Tribune that the step to bar unauthorised people from speaking to the media has been taken due to the malicious intention of some media personnel who want personal benefits and have vested interest designed to defame the public sector university.

A notification was issued on Saturday from the office of the registrar which has clearly mentioned that whosoever is involved in leaking official secrets to an unauthorised person, defaming the university or a person related to the university, or found engaged in activities, detrimental to the interest of the institution strict disciplinary action would be taken under Section 5(E) of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University Employees Efficiency and Discipline Statutes-2016.

The notification has been circulated to all department heads, faculty members, and staffers and they have been asked to stay away from the media or avoid sharing any university information with journalists.

Some media organisation has contacted our media section in campus and asked for advertisement, which we have turned downed due to administrative and regulatory limitations, then they started malicious propaganda against us, VC Dr Sultana stated.

“The university has limited resources and we knew our restraints which is why we couldn’t spend lavishly on publicity or advertisements, so certain media outlets have started false propaganda against us,” She added.

“Our accounts and track record are as clear as can be if there has been any misuses of funds I would be the first one to take step against my administration,” she added.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2018.