SHC says Laghari no more Isra University VC

The Sindh High Court on Friday in a successive order barred Dr Nazeer Ashraf Laghari from clinging on to the position of Isra University Vice Chancellor after completion of his three-year stint on June 23.

A two-member bench, headed by Justice KK Agha, rejected the appeals from the former VC and registrar of Isra University, upholding the judgment of the single bench issued on August 15, 2023.

The SHC during the hearing held at Karachi while dismissing the appeal of Dr Laghari against the same court's previous orders against his stint's prolongation directed the Chancellor Prof Dr Ghulam Qadir Kazi to appoint a new VC within four months.

In the interim, the chancellor has been allowed to perform responsibility of the VC as per section 8 (2) of the Isra University Act, 1997. "At any time when the office of the VC is vacant ... the chancellor shall make such arrangements for the performance of the duties of the VC as he may deem fit," reads the provision.

The bench of justice Muhammad Karim Khan Agha and justice Amjad Ali Bohio underlined that this is going to be a 'stopgap' arrangement until the new VC's appointment. "As such there is no necessity or reason for the appellant [Dr Laghari] to continue in the office of the VC or to continue to fulfill the functions of that office which he ceased to hold after the expiry of his three years tenure," the bench stated.

The court also underscored that the appellant has not disputed the expiry of his term in his petition. Laghari's counsel pleaded that though his client's tenure ended on June 23, 2023, it is necessary to allow him to continue to discharge the responsibility of the VC in interest of the varsity's smooth functioning till the new VC is appointed. He prayed the bench to set aside previous orders which barred Laghari from continuing in the office.

The university and its hospital in Hyderabad have remained ensnared in a perpetual administrative crisis for more than two years as two groups of academicians tried to wrest control from each other. Dr Laghari and his associates have been running the main campus in Hyderabad and the hospital and the Kazi family, who are known as the founder of Isra Islamic Foundation (IIF) and subsequently Isra University, Karachi and Islamabad campuses.

Last month, the SHC directed the district administration and the police to stop Laghari from working on the position of the VC. Another order from the SHC Karachi had restrained him from performing the duty of the VC until the SHC heard his appeal slated for September 13.

Media talk

The disputed VC of Isra Prof Dr Hameedullah Kazi, accompanied by the chancellor and other officers, told a press conference at Hyderabad press club on Friday evening that despite repeated orders of the SHC Dr Laghari seems adamant to continue. According to him, Dr Laghari is trying to present Dr Ameer Bux Channa as Isra's Chancellor.

"They are feeding fake stories that Dr Ameer Bux Channa has become the Chancellor and that he is going to appoint Laghari as the VC," said Dr Hameedullah. He pointed out that Dr Laghari himself mentioned the designation of Chancellor with the name of Dr Ghulam Qadir in his petition in the SHC a month ago.

The Foundation in December 2020 appointed Dr Ghulam Qadir as the Chancellor in compliance with the SHC's order. His appointment was notified by the varsity acting Registrar Abdul Qadir Memon, who was also given the interim charge of the registrar by the court.

Dr Hameedullah said the purpose of the disinformation campaign concerning the chancellor is to stop the legally appointed officers from assuming their work. He appealed to the local authorities to enforce the SHC's orders so that the good days of Isra University, which faced around three crisis-ridden years under Dr Laghari, can be restored.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2023.