Islamia college university: PHC seeks reply on appointment

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Monday asked Islamia College University’s (ICU) chancellor and vice chancellor to respond to objections raised by the student affairs director regarding his cumulative experience. ICU Director Student Affairs Sikandar Khan was appointed as a lecturer at Islamia College in 1980 on ad-hoc basis. His appointment was approved and regularised in 1982. Khan has been serving as the director of student affairs since 2009 and has more than 32 years of experience, according to the petition filed through his counsel, Amirur Rehman. It contends Khan was eligible for the post of ICU registrar – a position he applied to once it was announced. The petition read that Khan applied for a certificate of experience from the concerned department. The certificate was issued, but excluded the two-year period he was employed as a lecturer on ad-hoc basis – a decision disputed by Khan. Khan’s counsel informed the bench that his client was the “senior most employee” of the university’s administration and entitled to be appointed as the registrar. Justice Miftahuddin and Justice Irshad Qaisar later issued notices through the Governor’s Secretariat seeking a response from ICU’s chancellor and vice chancellor.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2013.