In Sindh, disqualified professor appointed to key position

Nepotism and disregard for professional integrity continues unabated in Sindh College Education Department

KARACHI: After the provincial anti-corruption department submitted an inquiry report about the rampant corruption and nepotism at the Government Degree Science and Commerce College, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, a new case of corruption and nepotism has surfaced within the Sindh education department.

The government has recently appointed Professor Hafiz Abdul Bari Indhar as the director-general of government colleges in Karachi - a person who had been dismissed from his post as the regional director of Sindh College Education Department, Sukkur, over allegations of corruption.

The post of director-general had been lying vacant for the past several months. An official notification regarding his new appointment has also been issued. To reinstate Professor Bari, the Sindh government has transferred Professor Syed Majid Ali, who was working as the acting director-general.

Professor Bari’s appointment surprised many people in the department as numerous complaints related to corruption were filed against him during his tenure. He was dismissed at the recommendation of former Sindh secretary colleges Lubna Salahuddin, together with the continuous protests registered by Sindh professors and lecturers association against him.

In her recommendation letter written on July 12, 2018, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, Salahuddin addressed the Sindh chief secretary and advised the immediate dismissal of Hafiz Abdul Bari.

Speaking on Bari’s disqualification, Salahuddin quoted the then deputy commissioner of Sukkur and wrote that Bari had political affiliations and misused his authority by getting involved in illegal activities. Per the letter, the SSP special branch Sukkur also confirmed the news.

Mobin Ahmed Jatoi, a National Assembly candidate from NA-207 Sukkur, said that Bari was dismissed on the charges of being involved in corrupt practices and professional dishonesty. Moreover, numerous written complaints were registered against him, after which a departmental inquiry was launched.

As a result of the complaints, the then chief sectary of Sindh recommended that Hafiz Abdul Bari should be transferred and barred from holding any administrative or financial position for at least three years. However, nearly after a year, he has been given the charge of regional director of the government colleges in Karachi because of his outreach and influence.

Regarding the issue, the acting Sindh director-general of colleges Professor Abdul Hameed Chandar claimed that he had not recommended the appointment of Hafiz Abdul Bari but the Colleges Secretary himself conducted the interviews.

Regarding the Gulshan College corruption case, he said that he had submitted the inquiry report to the college's secretary, but he has not received a response yet.

“As soon as the report is received, action against the college administration will be taken as per the directives of the college's secretary,” he said.

The secretary of the college education department Rafiq Ahmed could not be reached since his phone was switched off. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2019.