HEC contemplating probe into geography professor’s appointment

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan is planning to start an inquiry against the illegal appointment of Punjab University (PU) Professor Dr Abdul Ghaffar against a withdrawn advertisement, Pakistan Today learnt on Saturday.
According to sources, the HEC is taking action on PU Professor Dr Tabbasum Jamal’s written complaint submitted to HEC Chairman Javaid Qurashi and Executive Director Dr Sohail H Naqvi two days ago. Tabassum had claimed that Ghaffar, alleged to be the leader of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) group at PU, was illegally appointed as Professor of Geography with effect from May 21, 2007 against a cancelled position. She sent the same application to Lahore High Court chief justice, governor/ chancellor, PU administration and Punjab chief minister to request them to take legal action over the matter.
HEC sources said the commission has planned to initiate action against the illegal appointment by former PU vice chancellor (VC) Lt Gen (r) Arshad Mahmood and would ask PU VC Professor Dr Mujahid Kamran to hold an inquiry.
According to a PU official, the PU administration has started investigating the matter and has asked the official concerned to check Ghaffar’s status. The official said the professor has approached the administration, requesting to bury the issue and the administration also wants to hush up the matter. He said in dozens of cases JI people were appointed as nazims, guards and operators at by the PU directors and deans during the past and the current administration is helpless against the hooliganism of the group.
Another PU official said not only the JI but a close friend of PU VC in the Registrar’s Office is also trying to hide the matter. He feared that the pro-JI teachers would start protesting and threatening the families of complainants, hence the investigation must be taken on at the government level. He said, “Gangsters and hooligans have become the deans and directors at PU. In such situation, who will do justice on a female’s complaint against the pro-JI corruption.”
Tabassum said she personally submit an application to the PU chancellor, chief minister, PU VC and Lahore High Court chief justice and demanded inquiry on merit. She said she knows she had chosen a dangerous path by exposing JI group’s corruption but she did so for the sake of merit and honesty. She said corrupt teachers like Ghaffar were damaging PU’s reputation and it was up to the government and the PU VC to conduct inquiry and take legal action against him.
Ghaffar was not available for
the comment.