Isra varsity’s issues finally resolved

SHC orders removal of contentious chancellors, VCs; restores IIF council

KARACHI:

The tug of war between two groups of academicians that is ruining the quality of education and health services in the Isra University's three campuses and its hospital may eventually be settled for good.

The Sindh High Court on Friday ordered the removal of the contentious chancellors and vice chancellors and restored the council members of Isra Islamic Foundation (IIF), which manages the varsity through its nominated chancellor, to their strength which existed in 2011.

The restored council, whose numbers have been reduced from 19 to seven, has been directed to nominate a new chancellor within two weeks. The chancellor will later appoint a vice chancellor and until so happens the registrar will run the university affairs.

Prof Dr Hameedullah Kazi and Prof Dr Ahmed Waliullah Kazi, who have been working as chancellor and VC of university's Karachi and Islamabad campuses and Prof Dr Nazir Ahmed Leghari, the VC of main campus in Hyderabad and who also administratively controls the hospital in Hyderabad, stand removed.

"The restored council may announce a date of meeting for nominating a chancellor in two-week time and until then the registrar of university will perform daily functions in routine," reads the concluding paras in the 25-page judgment of the SHC.

"The foundation is restored to its original members as it stood in 2011 prior to induction of new members."

The SHC has also ordered a 10-year audit of the foundation.

However, the council is expected to lay its weight behind the Kazis, whose family has remained synonymous with the varsity since it was founded, instead of Leghari. Five of the seven members have hitherto been known to have sided with the Kazis in the decisions made by the foundation.

The seven members of the council include its president Dr Ghulamqadir Kazi, vice president Dr Asadullah Kazi, general secretary Dr Ghulam Hussain Siddiqi, joint secretary Dr Nazir Ahmed Leghari, treasurer Dr Amir Bux Channa and members Saleem Kazi and Dr Muhammad Saleh Memon.

The entire order delineated on three points or questions beginning from the members of the IIF to the nomination or appointment of the chancellor and the foundation's audit.

The court noted that the litigants from both the camps started to knock on the doors of the courts since November 24, 2020, when Umer Kazi and others filed three suits against Asadullah Kazi, former chancellor of Isra, and others.

As many as 12 suits have been filed till August 22, 2022., within a period of less than two years.

They even booked each other in crime FIRs which resulted in the humiliating arrest and custody of the chancellor Hameedullah Kazi on August 7.

After receiving a formal sanction of Imam and Khateeb of Holy Mosque of Kaaba, Sheikh Muhammad Subail Abdullah on June 20, 1986, the founding members raised donation of 1.5 million Saudi riyals at the mosques of Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam besides other places in KSA.

A statutory entity with the name of Isra Islamic Foundation (Guarantee) Limited was formed on August 28, 1990, which was followed by the enactment of Isra University Act, 1997, and establishment of the varsity.

During the hearing it was also argued that Isra's chancellor should be appointed through advertisement. However, the judges dismissed the contention citing the difference in the private and public sector universities. The court cited examples of private universities which have their own chancellors.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2022.