Vacant since February: Committee rejects three candidates for Urdu varsity’s VC
Earlier in July, the university senate and search committee had proposed three names for the VC: Dr Syed Altaf Hussain, former VC of Allama Iqbal Open University; Prof. Dr Zafar Iqbal, the dean of arts at Karachi University; and Dr Moinuddin Ahmed, a professor at FUUAST’s botany department.
But HEC Chairman Dr Javed Laghari, who was also one of the members of the university senate and chairman of search committee, opposed the decision and wrote to the President calling the candidates below average and that they did not meet the basic criteria to be appointed as the head of the university.
After the objection, President Zardari, who is the chancellor of the university, ordered that an independent expert committee be made to evaluate the candidates. A five-member committee was constituted to re-evaluate the nominees. These five members of the independent committee included the Vice-Chancellor of Quaid-i-Azam University Dr Masoon Yasinzai, Vice-Chancellor of Karachi University Dr Qaiser, Federal Secretary Education and Training Chaudhry Qamer Zaman, a representative of Governor House and Dr Laghari.
Official sources said that the committee met in the President House on Wednesday and the members evaluated all candidate individually. The committee noted that all three aspirants are “below average” and do not meet the criteria to become a VC of any major university, an official familiar with the matter said.
“We were looking for a black cat in the dark room, but it was not there,” one of the expert remarked.
The expert committee has recommended to re-advertise the post and suggested even giving relaxation in the age to find a competent professional.
The search for a VC begun in February after Dr Muhammad Qaiser, FUUAST VC, was put in-charge of the Karachi University. The initial search committee went through 49 applications, before shortlisting four names on May 28 and giving them to senate on June 5. The senate met on July 29 and forwarded three names.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 22nd, 2012.
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