Faculty members of the newly-chartered Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University (STMU) have expressed concern over what they term the “illegal formation of the university’s first senate”.
The faculty and senior staff members, in a meeting on Saturday, expressed their dismay at the “unconstitutional nomination” of four members from Shifa International Hospital (SIH).
“The syndicate, which is the executive body, has not been nominated yet and all decision taken by the senate are therefore unconstitutional,” said a faculty member, who wished not to be named.
He demanded of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to take notice of the illegal composition and called for including at least four faculty members in the university senate. Earlier this year, the National Assembly unanimously passed the Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University Bill 2011 tabled by Pakistan Peoples Party senior leader Khurshid Shah to establish the university.
HEC Executive Director Sohail Naqvi, when contacted, said the syndicate or senate in any university cannot function without the representation of at least four faculty members besides elected parliamentarians, deans and principals of all affiliated colleges.
SIH spokesperson Azmatullah Qureshi said though the university charter has been passed there has been no further development except for the vice chancellor’s (VC) appointment. He added that the faculty members would be given preference for other positions.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2012.
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