Punjab University: Special Branch cop seen pulling PU strings

A constable of the Punjab Police is deputed at Punjab University for last seven years, which is against Police Order.

LAHORE:

To most people, Dr Mujahid Kamran is the vice chancellor of Punjab University (PU). But some PU staffers believe that a constable of the Punjab Police, deputed at the university for last seven years, has become the de-facto VC instead.

Muhammad Munawar, also known as “Munawar Sipahi”, is a constable in the Special Branch assigned to report on matters at the campus. As per Police Order 2002 Chapter 3 Section 15, no official of the Special Branch can be deputed at the university for more than three years. However, Munawar has been stationed on campus for seven years.

“When Dr Kamran was appointed VC in 2007, allegations were levelled against him by some faculty members.

The matter was taken up even by the Standing Committee on Education in the National Assembly,” a senior faculty member at PU told The Express Tribune. The government apparently relied on IB reports to get to the bottom of the matter, the faculty member added.

Dr Mian Aftab, a former head of the psychology department, said, “Munawar seems to be running the show at PU. He has, indeed, become the de-facto VC at PU. I once filed an application with the DIG Special Branch to get him transferred and was later told that VC had gotten the transfer stopped.” Dr Aftab said that faculty members were able to meet the VC quickly when their request went through the constable.

Inquiries were also fast tracked when they went through him, the doctor added. He said a ‘bad’ report would land in front of the VC if anyone fell out of favour with Munawar.



University staffers say that Munawar’s brother’s Muhammad Yaseen received an age relaxation for recruitment as an admin officer at PU and now serves in the VC’s office in BPS 16.

Muhammad Amir, Munawar’s brother-in-law, has also been appointed as a junior clerk in BPS 9.

“Munawar and his brother Yaseen both have also been allocated rooms in the U-Com hostel which is reserved only for PhD students,” said an upset official

Despite repeated attempts to establish contact, VP Dr Kamran was not available for comment.

PU Additional Registrar Dr Aurangzeb Alamgir said “Some faculty members calling a policeman de-facto VC because of their politics is an insult to the institution.” He declined comment on the appointment of Muhammad Yaseen and Munawwar’s long years at PU.

PU Registrar Professor Ras Masood said he knew both Munawar and Yaseen but had not known they were brothers. He added that he also did not know that Munawar has been on the campus for seven years, or that he has been given a room at a hostel. He promised an investigation.

DIG Special Branch Naveed Elahi, there are more than one Special Branch men deputed at PU. He said they keep an eye on the law and order.

For his part, Constable Munawar rubbished all the allegations. “There are some professors and staffers who have suffered because of my reports.  … an associate professor was involved in corruption amounting to Rs 6.5 million.

I informed the VC about it. … just one case. I have written many reports. I am a hurdle in the way [to corruption] so people propagate lies about me,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2013.