LCWU faculty oppose KC registrar’s appointment

A controversy erupted between the faculty members and acting Vice Chancellor of Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) on Friday over the appointment of controversial Kinnarid College (KC) registrar Dr Naima Khurshid as associate professor (AP) in varsity’s Persian Department, sources told Pakistan Today.
The LCWU faculty members wrote a letter to the Punjab chief minister (CM) against the LCWU acting VC, Acting Registrar Dr Hamala and Dr Naima Khurshid and alleged that the VC and the registrar had appointed her on the basis of favoritism. The LCWU teachers in their letter to the CM also alleged that Dr Naima was involve in various allegations in her former institutions and her appointment was unjustified as the CM himself had setup a tribunal to prove corruption charges against Dr Naima in 2009.
Tension was witnessed at LCWU where faculty members were found condemning the acting VC Dr Farhat Saleemi over the appointment of Dr Naima. According to an LCWU professor seeking anonymity, the faculty members expressed strong resentment over the appointment of Dr Naima in BS-19, making it clear that she was not acceptable in any capacity at the university, adding that the faculty shall launch protests against the acting VC and the acting registrar.
She said Dr Naima, during her stay at Queen Mary College (QMC), had launched a character assassination campaign against the QMC principal. She said that a former secretary and Naima’s own husband, who is a top official in Punjab government, played a role in the unlawful appointment. She said that the majority of LCWU’s faculty maintained that Dr Naima’s previous professional record and references from the QMC were overlooked by the acting VC to induct her in the faculty.
She also said that LCWU teachers in their letter to CM also alleged that the tenure of Dr Naima at KC had been full of questionable activities including an inquiry against her in 2008 when she was appointed as a resident inspector in intermediate examinations at KC. Another LCWU faculty member said that because of the absence of a regular VC, LCWU’s affairs are disturbed and the acting VC was involved in nepotism. She said that Dr Naima’s post was advertised but varsity administration did not fulfill the criteria and would not allow appointment against the merit.
Denying the faculty’s allegations, an LCWU administrative official said that the varsity administration fulfilled all legal criteria in the appointment of Dr Naima. She said that whatever was happening at the LCWU after acting VC Dr Farhat had taken charge was on merit and no violation had been made in taking academic decisions. Responding to allegations put forward by the LCWU faculty, Dr Naima denied all charges against her by saying that she had been selected on merit.
She said her husband did not influence her selection as he had no authority to do so and those blaming her were just conspiring. She said her past record and current selection were not linked. She said she had honestly worked in various colleges and rendered her services with honesty. She further said it was her within her right to resign from previous institutions and seek a new career.