CM, governor to discuss VC row

PML-N, PPP leadership intervenes to resolve differences

LAHORE:

The senior leadership of Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-N has moved to settle the issue of the appointment of the vice chancellors of 25 Punjab government universities.

According to sources, Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif will meet soon to take up the reservations of the former and resolve the issue.

The sources said the appointment of the VCs of the Government College University Lahore (GCUL) and Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) was the most contentious issue, drawing concerns from the Governor's Secretariat as well as some professors.

The top leaders of both the PPP and PML-N have become active to settle the issue after reservations of the governor surfaced about the summary of the CM about the appointments.

It has been decided that a meeting between the CM and governor will take place in which other leaders of both parties will also participate, said an official of the Governor's Secretariat.

He said the governor was not willing to sign the summary from the CM Secretariat because he was of the view that several professors who did not come up to the merit or faced various allegations had been recommended in the summary.

The sources said there were differences over the appointment for the LCWU. They said the summary forwarded to the Governor's Secretariat included the name of a Punjab University dean for the post of the University of Narowal VC who had allegedly faced allegations of bribery for appointment as ad hoc VC in the past. The inclusion of such candidates had annoyed the governor, the sources said.

They said the governor also had reservations over only having been sent the names of the top candidates in the summary, contending that he was authorised to select a VC from among three top candidates.

The issues will be discussed in the meeting of the governor and the CM, the official said, expressing hope that the final decision to notify the appointments would be taken as a result of the discussion.

A day earlier, the governor had expressed his reservations about the CM's summary and said he would not take any decision violating merit.

On the other hand, delay in the appointments has caused concerns among the teachers and students.

According to Dr Amjad Magsi, President of the federation of university teachers' unions (FAPUASA), public sector universities in the country have been grappling with a severe crisis caused by more than two years of administrative instability and ad-hoc leadership. The situation has inflicted substantial damage on the academic environment while also reducing educational opportunities for the public.

He said the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association had advocated for the appointments strictly on merit.

He said the Punjab government had taken a positive step by initiating the process of appointing the VCs and there had been an anticipation that the procedure would be completed without unnecessary delays.

He said only professors with a proven track record of leadership, integrity and performance should be selected. "We remain confident that the process will proceed smoothly and fairly, free from undue influence, lobbying, or intimidation," he added.

The FAPUASA leader said that the governor, as the chancellor of the universities, should acknowledge the gravity of the situation. Both the constitution and the University Act outline the roles of the CM and governor in the appointments

Dr Magsi said it was crucial that the selection of VCs was hampered by political disagreements.

He said the Search Committee had already finalised its recommendations and the delay was only contributing to confusion and worsening the state of the universities.

"Therefore, we urge the authorities to act swiftly to appoint qualified VCs, ensuring that stability is restored in our educational institutions," he added.

He said the Supreme Court had issued a directive for the appointments on vacant posts of VC across the country in August.