On the backburner: Govt yet to take action on enquiries against public varsities

Reports on Bannu, Peshawar universities lying with CM Complaint Cell.

PESHAWAR: Two enquiry reports on alleged irregularities in public sector universities have been left to gather dust by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government, officials told The Express Tribune on Monday.

Requesting anonymity, they shared enquiries were conducted on alleged malpractice, including illegal appointments in Bannu and Peshawar universities, and were sent to the CM Complaint Cell.

“The reports seem to have been ignored since no action has been taken so far even though the reports have been lying with the relevant authorities for necessary action,” stated one of the officials. He added the problems cited in the reports will not get fixed until recommendations are followed and the results made public.

On July 5, K-P government banned fresh recruitment in all public sector universities in K-P till varsity administrations provide details on recruitments made between 2008 and 2013. The CM Complaint Cell had received several objections regarding irregularities in different universities in the said time period.

The Higher Education Department was ordered to collect data of eight universities. The panel constituted to investigate Bannu and Peshawar universities recently completed their task.

The official shared the investigation into other public sector universities is still under way. They revealed the results may differ from people’s expectations as some of the enquiry reports on illegal appointments have been tampered with.

The provincial government needs to take the issue to its conclusion, without controversy, added one of the officials.

On the other hand, a government official claimed the government was waiting for the yet to be functional accountability commission to take any decision.

“It could be that the government wants the accountability commission to deal with the issue. We have completed our task and the rest is up to the senior officials.”

The education department’s official, however, said the matter is still being processed and the fact-finding mission has been looking into complaints against other universities as well.

“Yes, we have sent the report on Bannu University and have also suggested the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) initiate proceedings against the former vice chancellor (VC),” he said, adding the report on University of Peshawar did not include any information on irregularities.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2014.