Not learned enough? Ajmal Khan’s appointment as ICU VC challenged at PHC

He does not have the required post-grad qualifications, says the petition

PESHAWAR: The appointment of Ajmal Khan as the vice chancellor of Islamia College University has been challenged at the Peshawar High Court. The premise of the petition was that Ajmal does not have the required qualifications or teaching experience at the post-graduate level.

The petition was filed by Akhtar Illyas through his counsel Muhammad Isa Khan. The respondents named include Ajmal, the governor, the university’s search committee through the higher education secretary as well as the government of K-P through higher education secretary.

In his petition, Illyas says Islamia College was established in 1913 and was given the status of university through an act called the Islamia College, Peshawar Act 2009. Through this, several eligibility criteria were established.

According to the petition, the rules include the following:

The candidate should have a PhD in any subject and not be more than 65 years of age on May 5, 2008. The candidate should have vast experience in post-graduate teaching including experience in administrative and financial management. Also, he or she should have to his or her credit quality research publications in journals of international repute.

“The chancellor who is the governor of K-P appointed Ajmal Khan as the VC of the university for a period of four years on June 26, 2008. The VC holds a master’s in economics and does not have a PhD in any subject,” read the petition.

The petitioner claims the ineligibility of the incumbent VC’s appointment was examined in an audit which stated Ajmal Khan did not fulfil the above criteria. Illyas’ petition stated that Ajmal’s appointment was irregular and needs justification.

“The VC has no experience in post-graduate teaching and also has no quality research publication in any journal of international repute. The VC’s first tenure expired on June 25, 2012 but he drew his salary of Rs441,680 in the period he was kidnapped,” the petition added. Ajmal was abducted by militants on September 7, 2010 from Professor Colony. He was released on August 28, 2014.

Through the petition, Illyas alleged Ajmal was also involved in a Hajj corruption case in which the Supreme Court issued “manifest and unambiguous directives to the end that no one shall be re-employed after 60 years of age” and Ajmal is 67 years old currently.

The court was requested to declare the first appointment of Ajmal as the VC (dated June 26, 2008) and the subsequent extension as illegal, unlawful and without lawful authority.

The PHC was also requested to direct the governor and higher education secretary to initiate proceedings against Ajmal for the recovery of all remuneration, pay or perks he received since the audit. The petitioner demanded an enquiry against the chairman and members of search committee constituted for the appointment of the VC.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2015.