A group of teachers allegedly involved in cases of plagiarism, academic corruption, fraud and female harassment at the Punjab University (PU) gathered in Attock two weeks ago to conspire against the varsity’s Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, sources told Pakistan Today.
The VC had allegedly favoured these ‘corrupt’ teachers in the past, sources said, and they were now also backed by Jamat-e-Islami (JI). Sources said that these teachers started a campaign against the VC when they started fearing action against their wrongdoings. Sources claim that these teachers, which generally are diversified, have united under a common interest against the VC and have been spreading rumours and were condemning the VC’s policies.
Members of PU faculty and students opposed the propaganda against the VC and demanded that the VC to snub these elements. They said that no action was being taken against ‘the plagiarist’, identified in 2007 by the VC himself, because he was backed by JI. They demanded that the Punjab Chief Minister and Governor seek a report from the varsity on the issue.
The faculty also demanded the CM to review the history of the candidates applying for the posts of the varsity’s deans and ensure that none of the selected personnel is a plagiarist. Sources said that after the defeat of Pro-JI candidates in PU Syndicate’s elections, the faculty have been demanding an action against corrupt officials, who are supervising a student pressure group and were blackmailing the VC.
A PU teacher said that these teachers had even spent varsity’s money to go to Attock. Another PU teacher condemned the VC for appointing these ‘plagiarists and criminals’ on important positions. He said that the VC should have appointed departmental heads on merit, without sidelining senior teachers. He said that the teachers whom the VC himself appointed on important positions were now against the VC.
The PU teacher said that the faculty was pleased with the VC policies, owing to which PU had started producing around 110 PhDs every year. He said that VC did a lot to develop research culture at the varsity and research work by a number of PU faculty members was being internationally recognised.PU faculty member Professor Munawer Sabir said that the VC was facing a tough opposition, which was backed by a religious party, which wanted to change the research culture at the varsity.
However, he said ‘liberal and sincere teachers’ backed the VC for his policies.