—Six-year long tenure of Dr Draiweesh expired on June 30th this year
HAMID KHAN WAZIR: The notification for Dr Ahmed Yousif Ahmed Al Draiweesh’s fresh tenure as International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) president has yet to be issued despite the expiry of his earlier tenure on June 30. This issue has raised serious concerns on the actual status of IIUI president.
According to the IIUI rules and regulations, the tenure of the university president may not exceed a period of four years, while no extension could be given beyond a single four-year term.
Dr Draiweesh was initially appointed as IIUI president on October 11, 2012, by former president Asif Ali Zardari in his capacity as chancellor. The appointment was endorsed in the 10th Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting held on July 1, 2014, at Imam Muhammad Bin Saud Islamic University, Riyadh.
After the expiry of his tenure, no notification for his extension had so far been issued, thus giving rise to many questions. Per IIUI rules, in the absence of a permanent president, the rector may appoint one of the vice presidents to perform the duties of the president.
While talking to Pakistan Today, The IIUI Rector Dr Masoom Yasinzai said, “We are waiting for the notification and if it is not issued till Monday, I would personally visit the President House to ensure that it is issued.”
He said that since the BoT had approved his extension, the issuance of notification was not a concerning matter and was only being delayed due to the absence of the president.
To a question whether any objection was raised over the president’s extension, the rector said that the notification was often delayed in this connection and the matter would be sorted out soon.
It is pertinent to mention here that a petition was filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) which challenged Dr Draiweesh first appointment as president of the university. The petition alleged that the president’s first tenure of six years was illegal, as BoT could not appoint a president for a term exceeding more than four years.
Dr Draiweesh remained in the news for getting a BS International Relations degree for his son allegedly in violation of the varsity’s rules and by using a fake transcript of Preston University Islamabad for exemption of 42 credit hours.
The petitioner also alleged that Dr Draiweesh only knew Arabic and could not communicate with teachers and students without the help of interpreters who were running university affairs per their own whims and wishes.
The petition also alleged that the IIUI president was involved in massive financial corruption and making illegal appointments at the top level. It further said that the president was a dual national and the Supreme Court had already taken a suo moto notice of appointments of dual nationals on executive positions. Therefore, Dr Draiweesh cannot hold the position of president of IIUI, it concluded.
Another petition challenging his current appointment was also pending in the Supreme Court, where the petitioner had requested to mark Dr Draiweesh’s appointment as illegal, which was made without following the required competitive process.
