Sindh University’s VC in troubled waters

Govt had set up inquiry committees to look into the matter twice before, but they were dissolved

KARACHI: After protests against the alleged corruption of Sindh University (SU), Jamshoro, Vice-Chancellor Dr Fateh Muhammad Burfat continued for weeks in many quarters of the varsity, an inquiry committee has been set up to look into the matter for the third time within a year.

In the past, two committees had to be dissolved while an inquiry had to be halted for not investigating the matter in accordance with the law.

This time, Enquiries and Anti-Corruption Establishment Chairperson Muhammad Waseem has been made part of the committee, while the former committee convener and Planning and Development Board Chairperson Naheed Shah Durrani will also be aboard. According to sources, the committee has been told to submit its enquiry report within a month.

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Dismissed inquiries

Previously, an inquiry was launched against Dr Burfat by the provincial anti-corruption department, while the Sindh government’s Universities and Boards Department also set up two different committees to investigate the allegations levelled against him.

The committees were formed in haste without taking the Universities Amendment Act 2018 into consideration. Owing to legal complications, the Sindh government had to dissolve the committees.

Other than the Planning and Development Board Chairperson Naheed Shah Durrani, former Secretary Universities and Board, Secretary Home Kazi Kabir and Additional Secretary Ghulam Ali Brahamni were part of the previous committee.

When the first committee was formed, the government-appointed Naheed Shah Durrani to investigate the allegations levelled against Dr Burfat. In response to that, the VC maintained that according to the Sindh Universities Amendment Act 2018, and there is no mention of an “inquiry officer” in the Act, hence the Sindh government had to dissolve the committee.

A second committee was formed on June 26 and two more junior officers were taken aboard. Dr Burfat maintained before the court that being the VC, he was a Grade-22 officer, therefore Grade-19 and Grade-20 officers cannot hold an inquiry against him, after which the Sindh government was forced to dissolve the committee for the second time.

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Third inquiry opens

According to sources, the Secretary Universities and Boards, Muhammad Riazuddin issued a notification on Oct 4, according to which a third committee has been formed in accordance with the Universities of Sindh Act 1972 and the Sindh Universities and Institutions Law Amendment Act.

The committee has been formulated by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, which will conduct investigation against Dr Burfat on allegations of gross misconduct, inefficiency, corruption, violation of budgetary provisions, moral turpitude, maladministration and mismanagement.

According to a senior law officer of the Sindh government, the situation could have been averted had the Universities and Boards Department formed the committee as per the law and the Act.

On being contacted, Dr Burfat said that he has received no new notification regarding the formation of the new committee yet.

Allegations and protests

Last month, the SU University Teachers Association (SUTA), SU Employees Welfare Association (SUEWA) and SU Officers Federation (SUOF) all joined hands and staged a protest to demand the removal of Dr Burfat.

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Meanwhile, when The Express Tribune contacted the leader of SUTA Irfana Mullah to speak about the ongoing investigation and the attitude of the Sindh government, she said that the department of universities and boards of the Sindh government has mishandled the inquiry to unnecessarily slow down the process.

“The attitude of the Universities and Boards Department has been destroying the institute. If allegations against the VC are established, then immediate action should be taken against him,” Irfana said. “If he turns out to be innocent, then he should be allowed to work respectfully.”

She further revealed that the syndicate meeting of the university was held on December 2018 and the quorum was not full in the meeting, therefore, a complaint was sent to the CM Sindh who then cancelled the syndicate meeting and postponed the decisions. Because of the previous cancellation, the syndicate meeting was held a few days ago.

“Keeping in mind the cancellation of the December 2018 meeting, it is evident that the last syndicate meeting was held on March 26, 2018, and the current meeting took place after around 1.5 years,” she said.

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“The recently-held meeting could only lead to decisions that had been stopped earlier, while the current issues of the employees are still in place and the promotion of officers is also pending.”

She further revealed that the current finance and planning committee meeting was held after three years and during these years, the emergency budget of Rs15 billion was spent. Owing to the planning committee’s meeting not taking place, new posts could not be generated.

She added that there are too many issues to be addressed and now there is a chance that another meeting of the syndicate will be held on October 26.

Regarding the allegations against the VC, she said that Dr Burfat has filled grade-2 to grade-16 posts without advertising the posts.

“The personal secretary of the VC used about Rs6 million of contingency in six months. Dr Burfat also signed an agreement with a private bank and attempted to allow a 3,000-square feet university land to the private bank despite the presence of three banks on campus,” she said. “Moreover, 12 vehicles were put in the VC’s pool and 4,000 litres of petrol was spent on cars every month.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2019.