An example of academic corruption and favouritism will be witnessed today at the Punjab University (PU) where the varsity administration will appoint Social Work Department lecturer Syeda Mahnaz Hassan to the post of assistant professor (AP), Pakistan Today learnt on Tuesday.
PU sources disclosed that a high-up in the administration “created” the AP post especially for Mahnaz to promote her. Sources said that a PU “influential” only invited his blue-eyed candidate, Mahnaz, for the interview, rejecting the applications of other eligible candidates for the said post. Sources said that Mahanz was also the superintendent of PU Hostel No 3 and was thus getting a “special favour”. Sources added that she had a five-year teaching experience.
PU faculty and applicants for the said post demand LHC chief justice, Punjab governor and chief minister take notice of this corruption and set up an enquiry to probe into the matter.
CANDIDATES ‘SIDELINED’: According to sources, PU advertised the post of AP at Social Work Department some months ago and according to the criteria mentioned in the advertisement, an MPhil degree and a five-year teaching experience was required to apply for the said post. Three female candidates applied for the post, out of which two were “sidelined by the influential”, despite that they met the criteria, and only Mahnaz has been called for the interview today. The high-up barred the department to sent call letters to other applicants and advised to “keep the matter secret”, sources revealed.
FACULTY, OFFICIALS CONDEMN: After the news regarding this violation of merit and favouritism reached PU faculty members, they showed their concern for a senior member who had been denied her right to appear in the interview.
A PU official said it was “surprising” how the other two candidates were denied their right of appearing in the interview. He said that “secretly” a selection board was set up that would conduct Mahnaz’s interview today “without following any merit”.
A PU official, seeking anonymity, said that it was the murder of merit that females were not called for the interview. He condemned the incident and requested PU VC to take notice of the issue and nullify the selection. He said that the official always favoured the PU VC and appreciated his efforts but opposed corruption and favouritism.
‘WHY WAS I NOT CALLED?’ A candidate who applied for the post but was denied her right, Norina Tariq, a faculty member at a government college, said that she had teaching experience of 24 years and had an MPhil degree as well but she was not sent the call letter for the interview. She condemned how an influential at the varsity misused his powers. She said that when she inquired about the matter, an official said that she was not called because she did not have enough post-graduate experience. She said she was surprised because the requirement of post-graduate teaching experience was not mentioned in the advertisement. No government college in the province was holding post-graduate classes for social work, so there was no point in having a post-graduate experience in the said field, she added. She demanded the CM take notice of the issue.
‘WE NEVER COMPROMISED ON MERIT’: A PU administrative official, while clearing the administration’s stance, said that selection was being done on merit and other females were not called for the interview following the merit policy. Syeda Mahnaz Hassan was not available for comments despite repeated requests.
