QAU registrar calls it quits

Raja Qaiser disheartened by repeated closures, drug usage and lawlessness on campus

ISLAMABAD:

Raja Qaiser Ahmed has quit as registrar of the Quad-e-Azam University (QAU) saying he was in no position to hold the office amid the alleged hooliganism of ethnic groups, the repeated closure of the campus, rampant use of drugs and a host of other issues that have plagued the top-ranking higher education institution over the years.

The announcement comes at a time when academic activities continue to remain suspended at the QAU after two student groups clashed on the campus last month. Two days back, the university announced to start on-campus classes for MPhil and PhD programmes from Monday (toady).

He said that drug use is common at the university and hostels have become havens for criminals. He said that the QAU has gradually declined over the past several years. Besides other factors, the biggest reason for the downfall and degradation of the university is ethnic groups active in the university known as councils.

In a lengthy post uploaded on his Twitter handle, Raja Qaiser, who is also asistant professor t the School of Politics and International Relations, QAU, said that “I have left the charge of the registrar QAU but I have to painfully admit that over the years QAU has gradually downslide. I squarely accept the onus of responsibility. Being evident to it in the last two years, I can safely say that ethnic councils have precipitated an indomitable influence.”

Dr Qaiser said that “these councils are violent and inherit a false arrogance with despicable ethics, mediocre intellect, below the mark professionalism and superficial anarchic instinct. The reliance on heresy and tirade, disregard for gender sensitivity, patronizing superiority, and toxic chauvinism have become prevalently ubiquitous, and all in the garb of a pigeonholed approach amassing shame and embarrassment for the university. Consequently, the enrolment has drastically reduced. This semester university had only 270 admissions because parents don't feel it a secure place anymore.”

He further said that “the repeated closures of the university, consumption of drugs and abject lawlessness have brought this institution to its feet. The huts were the dens of drugs and hostels were the safe havens of illegal dwellers. The real-time remedy was to have a clampdown on these two nuisances. The demolition of huts and evacuation of the hostels were indispensable. I regret that genuine students and researchers who had nothing to do with this mess had to face the inconvenience but circumstances necessitated that to avoid any further grisly happening.”

He said that there is a marked line of difference between liberty and lawlessness. I have been to 18 countries and have never seen a single university where unauthorised access is possible or you can break the heads of the students of other communities in the duress of liberty. This is outright criminal. The most agonizing part is the character assassination of teachers by the ruffians which reflects poorly on their parenting and socialization.”

The QAU former registrar said that “students forget that they are not here to be the political leaders but to be cognisant career-oriented individuals. Effective campus management is never called 'securitisation' in any part of the world. The top-ranked university (which is of course not because of councils) can't be left at the mercy of hooligans and hoodlums. I hope the campus reforms will be executed as decided and this university will regain its lost glory and grandeur. May God bless this otherwise a wonderful university.

He regretfully admitted that the quality of QAU is gradually deteriorating while the university administration has adopted a policy of appeasement.

He said that the most heinous act, in this scenario, is the role of teachers. Students in university were more interested in becoming political leaders rather than building their own future, he said. He said that he was resigning from the post and hoped that “we may collectively revive QAU which was tolerant, pluralistic, and progressive.”

On the other hand, the hostel allotment to the students could not be finalised yet, which continues to take a toll on the students including females who had been evicted from hostels.

According to a notification issued earlier by the QAU registrar, the rules of hostel allotments have been amended in the new policy. According to the new policy, all previous hostel allotments had been cancelled and students will have to apply for hostel rooms under the new policy.

Sources said that the university administration was facing many difficulties in starting on-campus classes and opening hostels, which are being renovated and repaired.

The sources claimed that the on-campus classes for BS programmes will be started after Eidul Fitr as the administration thinks a large number of students for BS programmes will have to come to the campus to use labs and other facilities.

The sources said that the hostels’ administrations will decide on seats keeping in mind the number of students in each department. The chairperson or director of the department will recommend the names of the students for these seats and will be bound to follow the merit list strictly. After the first merit list, a fresh merit list will be prepared after every two semesters.

The allotment for MPhil students will be made for four semesters and the allotment for PhD students will be made for the first four years and there will be no extension of allotment. First-semester students of BS programmes will be given priority in hostel allotments.

Under the new hostel policy, the merit list of the previous semester will be taken into consideration in the current situation or later when a seat becomes vacant in the hostel. It will be mandatory for the students to show their hostel cards while entering the hostels.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 27^th, 2023.