The rot seems to have set deep in the affairs of Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) where a group of teachers appears to have held the whole machinery hostage.
In a recent meeting of the university syndicate, QAU Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr Javed Ashraf was asked how he had promoted Chaudhry Waheed as associate professor in stark violation of the criterion and without endorsement of the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Ashraf reportedly told the syndicate that he approved the promotion “with a gun to [his] head”. Chaudhry Waheed who was present in the meeting, was told by HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed that he could not be a member of the syndicate or an associate professor on tenure until he met the minimum criterion of publishing 10 research papers in recognised journals.
But despite this clear instruction, Waheed continued to sit in the meeting and Dr Mukhtar had to stop him on many occasions as he insisted on giving his input on the agenda.
In addition to Waheed, Dr Ashraf also promoted Dr Asif of the Mathematics Department to the group in violation of rules and regulations. However, the HEC took action and the QAU syndicate annulled both promotions.
MOVES AND COUNTER MOVES:
But instead of taking it lying down, Waheed and Dr Asif were quick to call a meeting of the Academic Staff Association (ASA) on a single point agenda of ‘derogatory attitude of the HEC chairman’.
The group members protested the fact that the HEC chairman had been rude towards them during the meeting.
University sources say Waheed, Dr Asif and other members of this group have also colluded to embezzle Rs 5.5 million of the university’s funds.
In a recently issued press statement, the HEC said, “QAU syndicate has annulled the appointment of faculty members owing to violation of the HEC Criteria”. It went on to say that the QAU syndicate was kept in the dark about the facts of the case when these decisions were made. It further added that the appointments were made effective without the endorsement of the HEC.
HEC Director (Media) Ayesha Ikram told Pakistan Today that some of the professors had launched a smear campaign against the HEC.
“HEC provides funds for tenure track professors,” Ayesha said, and added, “They are endorsed and their credentials verified by the HEC and there are strict rules and regulations, which need to be followed in this regard. The whole hullabaloo is unprofessional and immature. The QAU is running a parallel government. The decision was unanimously made. Senator Farhatullah Babar and Mehreen Anwar Raja were there. Waheed and Asif were found to be lacking in the criteria and thus were denied professorship,” she said.
QAU VC Dr Ashraf, Chaudhry Waheed and Dr Asif were not available for comment.