Territorial ambitions: Sindh Madressatul Islam insists it has control over SM College buildings
The university’s syndicate advises the college’s staff to transfer to another institution.
KARACHI:
The Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) has decided to go ahead with its takeover of the three buildings that currently house the Sindh Muslim Government College.
The newly designated university’s first syndicate decided to approach Governor Ishratul Ebad Khan to declare that “SM college [is] a part of the SMIU”. The college is housed in three old buildings of the university, Hassanally House, Khairpur House and Sardar House. “Therefore, according to SMIU’s act, [the college] is a part of the SMIU.”
Taking the stance, the university appears undeterred by the Sindh High Court’s (SHC) decision to suspend an earlier notification regarding the shifting of the college to another building in the neighbourhood, as well as protests by SM College students.
The former Sindh Madressatul Islam School was awarded the status of a university this February. The provincial government then merged the SM College with the new university. Having administrative control over the college’s property, the university’s management decided to shift physical assets and staff of the SM college to the building of Government Degree Girls’ College in Kharadar. On October 11, the education additional director for college inspection issued a letter to immediately shift the college to the new premises. Its vice chancellor, Dr Mohammad Ali Sheikh, had said at the time that SMIU’s academic blocks will be established in three old buildings, which were in the use of SM college.
He added that dissatisfied employees and students of the college can either join the university, or decide to remain independent, in which case they should vacate the buildings.
However, four SM College students took the new university to court over the issue. They argued that shifting the college during the ongoing session would adversely affect its 1,500 students. Moreover, the new college building given was not adequate for the SM college staff and students, argued the lawyer for the students.
The SHC bench, headed by Chief Justice Mushir Alam, on November 27 suspended the notification for shifting the college to its new location.
However, the SMIU syndicate reiterated that SM college staff and students should either join the university or transfer to another government institution. Those employees who decide to join the university will be hired at one grade higher than their previous grade, added officials.
Appointments approved
The syndicate, which comprised MNAs Dr Azra Fazal Pechooho, Dr Nafisa Shah and Ameer Ali Shah Jamot, also approved nomination of chairpersons for five departments. Dr Fouzia Khan was appointed chairperson of the media studies department, Dr Seema Jilani of environmental studies, Dr Mehboobul Hassan for business administration, Dr Safeeullah Soomro for computer science and Dr Anjum Bano Kazmi for the education department.
The syndicate also approved the appointment of 31 faculty members and 12 staff members. The officials also decided to approach the prime minister for the establishment of SMIU’s Islamabad campus at a building that was earlier approved by the federal government.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 24th, 2012.
The Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) has decided to go ahead with its takeover of the three buildings that currently house the Sindh Muslim Government College.
The newly designated university’s first syndicate decided to approach Governor Ishratul Ebad Khan to declare that “SM college [is] a part of the SMIU”. The college is housed in three old buildings of the university, Hassanally House, Khairpur House and Sardar House. “Therefore, according to SMIU’s act, [the college] is a part of the SMIU.”
Taking the stance, the university appears undeterred by the Sindh High Court’s (SHC) decision to suspend an earlier notification regarding the shifting of the college to another building in the neighbourhood, as well as protests by SM College students.
The former Sindh Madressatul Islam School was awarded the status of a university this February. The provincial government then merged the SM College with the new university. Having administrative control over the college’s property, the university’s management decided to shift physical assets and staff of the SM college to the building of Government Degree Girls’ College in Kharadar. On October 11, the education additional director for college inspection issued a letter to immediately shift the college to the new premises. Its vice chancellor, Dr Mohammad Ali Sheikh, had said at the time that SMIU’s academic blocks will be established in three old buildings, which were in the use of SM college.
He added that dissatisfied employees and students of the college can either join the university, or decide to remain independent, in which case they should vacate the buildings.
However, four SM College students took the new university to court over the issue. They argued that shifting the college during the ongoing session would adversely affect its 1,500 students. Moreover, the new college building given was not adequate for the SM college staff and students, argued the lawyer for the students.
The SHC bench, headed by Chief Justice Mushir Alam, on November 27 suspended the notification for shifting the college to its new location.
However, the SMIU syndicate reiterated that SM college staff and students should either join the university or transfer to another government institution. Those employees who decide to join the university will be hired at one grade higher than their previous grade, added officials.
Appointments approved
The syndicate, which comprised MNAs Dr Azra Fazal Pechooho, Dr Nafisa Shah and Ameer Ali Shah Jamot, also approved nomination of chairpersons for five departments. Dr Fouzia Khan was appointed chairperson of the media studies department, Dr Seema Jilani of environmental studies, Dr Mehboobul Hassan for business administration, Dr Safeeullah Soomro for computer science and Dr Anjum Bano Kazmi for the education department.
The syndicate also approved the appointment of 31 faculty members and 12 staff members. The officials also decided to approach the prime minister for the establishment of SMIU’s Islamabad campus at a building that was earlier approved by the federal government.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 24th, 2012.