Panel upholds decision: Dow University’s acting VC loses perks, promotion

Decision comes after Dr Umer Farooq did not appear to clarify his position

KARACHI: The fact-finding committee formed to probe Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) acting Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Umer Farooq’s alleged attempts to use forged means to get elevation to grade-22 has upheld its previous decision to withdraw his promotion and additional perks.

The decision was taken after Dr Farooq did not appear before the committee to clarify his position. The committee had given this opportunity to Dr Farooq on the instruction of the Sindh High Court (SHC).

After the SHC’s verdict, the university syndicate had extended the committee with the inclusion of three new members. The meeting of the committee was held on Wednesday at the university.

The meeting was attended by syndicate member Professor Talat Mirza, Liaqat National Hospital and Medical College’s Professor Karimullah Makki, Khairpur University’s former VC Professor Nelofer Shaikh and Dow University’s syndicate member Professor Abdul Ghaffar Billo.

In the report, submitted after the meeting with the university’s controlling authority and chancellor’s office, it was stated that Dr Farooq did not show any intention to comply with the orders of the syndicate and the SHC.

It said the professor did not attend the meeting – called to give him a chance of hearing – without any reason. It said that after detailed deliberations, the committee decided that the discussion be kept limited to the syndicate’s resolution.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th,  2015.