ISLAMABAD: The government is all set to appoint another acting vice-chancellor (VC) of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) after the resignation of the incumbent Acting Vice-Chancellor Dr Abid Farooqi, instead of appointing a regular VC, it was learnt reliably.
Sources told Pakistan Today that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi took notice of the issue and sought names of candidates from the incumbent Dr Abid Farooqi to replace him, who was ironically stopped by Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) from exercising his powers of making appointments, failing which he was warned of disciplinary proceedings.
Sources said that around a half-dozen potential candidates’ names have been sent to the prime minister including three officials from the university, and a similar number from PIMS for the appointment of acting vice chancellor of SZABMU.
A senior official wishing anonymity told Pakistan Today that it was beyond comprehension that the list included names of the officials from the hospital despite the fact the incumbent acting VC sent his resignation only after the CADD ministry stopped him from exercising power on the pretext that since he was an employee of the hospital, he could not make appointments.
He questioned that if another official of PIMS was appointed as acting VC, how would he be able to run the affairs of the university. The official added, “It is unfortunate that efforts are being made to appoint officials from PIMS despite the fact the university has officials who fulfil all the requirements.”
It is pertinent to mention here that Dr Abid Farooqi had already sent his resignation to the president in protest of CADD Section Officer Javed Akbar Sheikh’s letter, directing him to withdraw the orders of assigning the charge of the registrar to Dr M Hafeez and of controller examination to Hamid Mahmood.
Dr Farooqi preferred to tender his resignation instead of moving the court since he was not an aspirant for this post. After such uncalled for interference, he has asked the president to allow him to relinquish him from the post and arrange a regular VC.
However, sources said that instead of making the appointment of a regular VC, an acting VC is being appointed, who as usual would not be allowed legal powers.
They said that a number of appointments on high positions were pending, which wouldn’t be filled if regular VC’s appointment was not made.
They said that the acting VCs always appointed from within the institutions hence the PIMS officials would have to take NOC from the CADD ministry for appointment to the post.
