KU syndicate gives ‘conditional’ yes to ‘controversial’ promotions

A committee has been formed to probe the case and present its findings to the vice-chancellor.

KARACHI: The University of Karachi is still puzzled over the issue of the controversial promotions of three of its teachers, which many fear, will set a negative precedent for the future.

On November 9, the university’s governing body, the syndicate, had decided to promote three teachers of the political science department on ‘humanitarian grounds’, despite the many negative reports, regarding these teachers, submitted by the selection board since 2004. The move had drawn a lot of criticism as the university’s own rules do not carry a provision for any such ‘consideration’. One of the syndicate’s members had submitted a note of dissent in the meeting on November 9, requesting the matter to be taken up at the next meeting.

When the syndicate met on Saturday, the issue was again taken up leading to a debate among the participants. Some members alleged that the syndicate was trying to give ‘legal cover’ to their earlier controversial decision. What followed was a fierce exchange of words between the syndicate members as they realised that the minutes from the last meeting did not include the words ‘humanitarian grounds’. “Why has the phrase ‘humanitarian grounds’ been omitted from the minutes?” asked a member, Haji Muhammad Hanif Tayyab.

He subsequently demanded the vice-chancellor allow the reports of the international referees be presented before the syndicate. His request, however, was not entertained and the minutes were signed off.

“By signing off the minutes, the members have technically confirmed the syndicate’s approval of the promotions in the last meeting,” commented a member, on the condition of anonymity. The decision was made ‘conditional’ with respect to the findings of a special committee which was formed to look into the matter. Ironically, the university’s rules do not carry any provision for the formation of any such committee as all promotions and appointments have to be forwarded by the selection board - something that was missing in all three cases.

The purpose of forming the committee was to pass the buck onto the chancellor’s office, as the committee’s findings will be presented to the vice-chancellor, who will in turn forward them to the governor for approval. In doing so, the syndicate managed to give a yes and no to the promotions at the same time.

“Those members, including Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan, as well as Prof. Dr Majid Mumtaz, who were in favour of the promotions, vehemently opposed the idea of involving the Governor House as they wanted the syndicate to take immediate decision and issue promotion letters to the teachers,” reported a syndicate member. The other members, on the contrary wished for the university to be absolved of all blame as the final decision and liability would now lie with the Governor House.

Meanwhile, the nominee of the Higher Education Commission at KU’s syndicate, Muhammad Javed Khan, found it appropriate to formally submit the guidelines regarding teachers’ promotions, instead of getting involved in the debate.

Contrary to the ongoing debate, the selection board had, in 2010, unanimously declared the said positions in the political science department vacant, asking for the posts to be re-advertised after declaring the candidates not recommended for promotions.

The problem arose, said the KU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr Muhammad Qaiser, because the promotions had been pending for around nine years as the previous syndicates kept referring them back to the respective selection boards over the years. “The matter has many facets and our priority is to decide it on merit,” he added, while refusing to comment further.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3^rd, 2013.