Sindh University case: Teachers victorious after 2-year battle with VC Mughal

They believe the VC’s second four-year term was illegal.

HYDERABAD:

After having fought against Prof Dr Nazir A Mughal - the vice-chancellor (VC) of Sindh University, for nearly two and a half years, the university teachers’ struggle finally ended in victory on Thursday.

The movement, which was stirred by the murder of Prof Bashir Channar in Jamshoro in January 2012, began with a 50-day boycott of classes and ended at the Sindh High Court.

What happened

Mughal has been the university’s VC for nearly eight years. He completed his second four-year tenure on January 8 this year.

He managed to stay in office with the help of a two-year extension which he got from Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad in August 2013. A few days later, the Sindh Assembly enacted the Sindh Universities Law (Amendment) Act of 2013 which barred the vice-chancellor from seeking another term.



But Mughal challenged the new law in court and pleaded for a favourable order to validate his extension.

“We considered that extension illegal and today the high court has also termed it illegal,” said Dr Azhar Ali Shah, the vice-president of Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (Fapausa). He is also the president of the Sindh University Teachers Association (Suta) which had issued a white paper against the vice-chancellor two years ago, accusing him for misappropriation and nepotism. He said that the teachers would want the new VC to conduct an inquiry into the charges made against Mughal.

“Mughal appointed around 500 employees, spent money on foreign tours, misused research and book grants, gave unqualified promotions and hired retired officers on administrative posts,” alleged Dr Arfana Mallah, Suta’s general secretary and an executive committee member of Fapausa.

According to Dr Mallah, even the Sindh Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee had pointed out the misappropriation of funds. She told The Express Tribune that the teachers would renew their demands for an investigation once a new VC is appointed.

The Suta has asked the provincial government to give the interim charge to the pro vice-chancellor Dr Abida Tahirani and to issue an immediate a notification about it. The government announced a vacancy for the post of the university’s VC in October 2013. The search committee received applications from candidates, however, interviews for the appointment have not been conducted as yet.

“We fear that Mughal will cling on to the charge by challenging the court’s decision in the Supreme Court,” said Dr Mallah.

Two months ago, the government restricted Mughal from exercising his authority as VC and limiting him to administer routine activities. Dr Mughal was not available for comments. The university’s spokesperson, Nadir Mugheri, also declined to comment on the development.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2014.