Acting registrar saga continues at SZABMU

Syndicate members insist post should be advertised and filled on permanent basis

ISLAMABAD:

A decision has once again been taken to appoint an acting registrar at Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), as the Ministry of National Health Services has forwarded an agenda to syndicate members proposing the appointment of a registrar on deputation.

According to the agenda, Syed Tanseer Asghar, a surgeon at CDA Hospital, has been nominated for appointment as registrar on deputation. However, syndicate members have suggested that the post should instead be advertised and a registrar appointed on a permanent basis. Objections have also been raised over the appointment of a dean.

Documents available to The Express Tribune reveal that despite the passage of 13 years, SZABMU has yet to appoint a permanent registrar. The Ministry of Health has once again devised a plan to fill the position through deputation.

Under Section 15 of the SZABMU Act 2013, the registrar is designated as a statutory officer of the university and is to be appointed by the vice chancellor on the recommendations of the syndicate, in accordance with prescribed terms and conditions.

The registrar plays a central role in university governance, day-to-day administration, and the management of academic and institutional records.

During the 34th meeting of the syndicate, held on 23 December 2025, it was noted that the university currently does not have a full-time registrar, resulting in an administrative vacuum. Rather than proceeding with the appointment of a permanent registrar, the Ministry of National Health Services nominated Dr Asghar for the post.

In a summary sent to the syndicate, the vice chancellor recommended that the appointment of a full-time registrar would ensure institutional continuity, accountability, the effective functioning of syndicate and senate affairs, proper management of academic records, and the timely submission of reports to regulatory bodies.

Dr Asghar's name was placed before the syndicate, and it was stated that, if approved, his appointment would be formalised through a notification issued by the ministry following a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the parent institution, CDA Hospital.

However, a syndicate member, in a written objection, called for the post to be advertised and filled on a regular basis. The member questioned why a permanent registrar has not been appointed despite the university being operational for the past 13 years, adding that the position should have been publicly advertised and filled permanently rather than through deputation from an external organisation.

The syndicate member further expressed concern over why the ministry appeared to be selecting and recommending a specific individual for the role.

Attempts were made to contact university officials for comment; however, no response was received.