ICU replaces principal with immediate effect

Teachers say the new appointment is in violation of Supreme Court’s orders.

PESHAWAR:

After the chaos caused by former vice-chancellor Ajmal Khan’s kidnapping, Islamia College University (ICU) is hit with another confusion as the decision of replacing the principal, Madiha Asghar, creates disarray in the academic environment.

According to the office order issued on August 27, Dr Asghar, the chairperson of the Psychology Department of ICU, is being released of her additional duties as principal with immediate effect.

The Teaching Staff Association (TSA), however, argued that the replacement of Dr Asghar with Naseem Rehana is in violation of the Supreme Court’s orders as Rehana had served her term in Jinnah College for Women and is now retired.

TSA President Faisal Shehzad said Dr Asghar performed her additional duties well.  “When Madiha was the principal of the college the institution was awarded the best college in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa twice in a row,” he said, adding that she also fought for the college and got back 6,050 square yards of land from the University of Peshawar.

Dr Asghar told The Express Tribune that although she condemns the decision, she is not in a position to comment on it.

Islamia College University VC Noor Jehan said that Asghar is the chairperson of the Psychology Department and the charge of principal was in addition to her primary duties. She said that Rehana has been selected on a temporary basis and the search for the best candidate is ongoing.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31^st, 2012.