Game of Thrones: Quest for post of VP continues at IIUI

Many hats have been thrown into the ring, but no signs of an appointment are emerging.

ISLAMABAD:

The quest to attain the seat of International Islamic University vice president has resumed after a court declared the former head’s appointment illegal.

On May 29, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) declared the re-appointment of VP Sahibzada Sajidur Rehman illegal, and ordered the IIUI management to assign the responsibilities of VP to the senior-most eligible official, with a three-week deadline for the permanent appointment of a qualified candidate.

Since then, different names are emerging from different groups about who the interim VP will be.

The administration forwarded three names to the president of the university, while some other names have been forwarded by the teachers association.

The court ruled in its observation that the stop-gap appointee should have finance and administrative experience.

Among the senior-most teachers is Dr Muhammad Ghazali  — currently a Shariat Appellant Court judge — but he has no administration experience and has spent most of his career teaching only.

Another name is Dr Mansoori, the director general of the faculty of Sharia and Law, but he is also sans finance and administrative experience.



Among the names which are seriously being considered are Administration DG Tabraiz Aslam and Academics Director Shagufta Haroon. Officials at the university confirmed to The Express Tribune that both are the strong candidates for the post as they have the relevant experience and capability to handle the issues.

However, qualifications could take a back seat, as Ziaul Haq, the dean of the faculty of Sharia and Law and considered to be close to the university president, is also campaigning for the post.

“Though he is a teacher and lacks administrative know-how, he will make it up for it because of his ties to the top level,” said a Sharia department professor on condition of anonymity.

On the other hand, the Academic Staff Association is lobbying and backing Tahir Mansoori for the seat of VP and are in talks with different officials at the administration.

Meanwhile, the university administration has yet to make a formal announcement about the removal of the former VP on court orders, even though 12 days have passed and only three days are left to comply with IHC orders.

IIUI Additional Rector Masoom Yasinzai defended the university, telling The Express Tribune that it is not possible to comply with court orders in three weeks. “We have requested the IHC for a relaxation in the three-week deadline as it is not workable,” he said. He confirmed that the race for the chair continues and said that for the time being, the president will have the powers of the vacant post, adding that that the former VP Sajidur Rehman has filed an appeal against the decision and the management is awaiting a decision in that case.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2013.