Contractual appointments at IIU: ‘Illegal’ postings a stumbling block for many
Over 50 staffers await promotion, claim 13 contract employees holding them back.
ISLAMABAD:
Despite growing frustration and concern shown by International Islamic University (IIUI) staffers about contract employees, the management seems unmoved on the issue.
Besides, the university is still being run without a permanent full-time rector for the last eight months.
According to university sources, 13 persons have been appointed on contracts, while promotions of over 56 employees working on different pay scales have been withheld.
The contractual employees include members who were appointed in violation of a Supreme Court ruling from February 2, 2012, under which reemployment of superannuated persons as heads of institutions is against the rules and hence illegal.
Due to the delay in promotion of several officials, many of them are demotivated and sitting idle.
“As many as five additional directors; three deputy directors, one additional director, two vice-presidents; one director general and a research fellow of grade-19 are proving to be a stumbling block for permanent staff,” said an official.
The official and other permanent staff members said that any proposal on the welfare of permanent employees or solutions to their problems does not reach the top level because the officials who have to move them up the bureaucratic chain are mostly contractual.
“A permanent official takes staff issues and problems seriously, while contract staff members are least bothered about long-term issues,” they said. The sources added that a small group of officials has surrounded the president and acting rector, leaving lower staffs to suffer.
The University Staff Welfare Association wrote two letters on September 5 and November 21 against all appointments made at administrative level, said sources.
The sources added that these appointments were also in violation of a Higher Education Commission (HEC) notification issued on November 4, 2012, which said that retired faculty members should not be reappointed at academic or administrative positions.
When The Express Tribune contacted Vice President (VP) Sahibzada Sajidur Rehman about the allegations of illegal appointments, he said after attaining the age of 60, the time comes for people to serve with their experience. “Such appointments are not bad as long as every employee’s seniority is not affected.”
On the appointment of a full-time rector, the VP said the Quaid-i-Azam University Vice Chancellor Dr Masoom Yasinzai is doing his work efficiently as the acting rector and everything is functioning smoothly. “The President of Pakistan has the prerogative to name a rector,” he concluded.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2012.
Despite growing frustration and concern shown by International Islamic University (IIUI) staffers about contract employees, the management seems unmoved on the issue.
Besides, the university is still being run without a permanent full-time rector for the last eight months.
According to university sources, 13 persons have been appointed on contracts, while promotions of over 56 employees working on different pay scales have been withheld.
The contractual employees include members who were appointed in violation of a Supreme Court ruling from February 2, 2012, under which reemployment of superannuated persons as heads of institutions is against the rules and hence illegal.
Due to the delay in promotion of several officials, many of them are demotivated and sitting idle.
“As many as five additional directors; three deputy directors, one additional director, two vice-presidents; one director general and a research fellow of grade-19 are proving to be a stumbling block for permanent staff,” said an official.
The official and other permanent staff members said that any proposal on the welfare of permanent employees or solutions to their problems does not reach the top level because the officials who have to move them up the bureaucratic chain are mostly contractual.
“A permanent official takes staff issues and problems seriously, while contract staff members are least bothered about long-term issues,” they said. The sources added that a small group of officials has surrounded the president and acting rector, leaving lower staffs to suffer.
The University Staff Welfare Association wrote two letters on September 5 and November 21 against all appointments made at administrative level, said sources.
The sources added that these appointments were also in violation of a Higher Education Commission (HEC) notification issued on November 4, 2012, which said that retired faculty members should not be reappointed at academic or administrative positions.
When The Express Tribune contacted Vice President (VP) Sahibzada Sajidur Rehman about the allegations of illegal appointments, he said after attaining the age of 60, the time comes for people to serve with their experience. “Such appointments are not bad as long as every employee’s seniority is not affected.”
On the appointment of a full-time rector, the VP said the Quaid-i-Azam University Vice Chancellor Dr Masoom Yasinzai is doing his work efficiently as the acting rector and everything is functioning smoothly. “The President of Pakistan has the prerogative to name a rector,” he concluded.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2012.