PHC overturns appointment at University of Haripur

Orders reinstatement of qualified candidate

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has ruled in favour of a petition filed against the appointment of an unqualified officer to the Grade-19 post of Additional Provost at the University of Haripur. The court ordered the appointment of the petitioner, Pir Asfandyar, to the position and upheld the dismissal of Dr Ziaur Rehman, who had earlier been appointed to the post.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Syed Mudasir Amir and Justice Aurangzeb heard separate petitions filed by Pir Asfandyar and Dr Ziaur Rehman. Representing Pir Asfandyar, advocates Junaid Anwar Khan and Amjad Ali informed the court that their client holds an LLB, a Master's degree in Political Science and an MS qualification, has served as an administrator at the Defence College for Girls, Mardan, held several key administrative roles, eventually being upgraded from Grade-18 to Grade-19, and has extensive experience in hostel management and university administration.

Asfandyar had applied for the Grade-19 Additional Provost position at the University of Haripur, a position for which Dr Ziaur Rehman had also applied. Despite topping the merit list and having superior experience and academic qualifications, Dr Ziaur Rehman had been appointed based on the selection board's recommendation and a notification to this effect issued on February 8, 2021.

Pir Asfandyar had challenged the appointment in court which had referred the matter to the Chancellor who had in turn assigned the case to a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) for review.