Among the 30 candidates for the post of Punjab University (PU) Vice Chancellor, current VC Professor Dr Mujhaid Kamran’s wife is said to be the strongest challenge in the way of his extension, Pakistan Today learnt.
PU VC’s wife Professor Dr Najma Najam, who is currently the Karakoram International University (KIU) VC, is the only female educationist with 11 years of service as a VC and to have served as the VC for two public sector universities.
According to sources in the Higher Education Department (HED), the chances of extension in Dr Mujahid Kamran’s term have increased due to the presence of plagiarists and pro-Jamaat-e-Islami and pro-Islami Jamiat Talaba persons among the applicants. While his strongest opponent remains his wife, Dr Najma.
According to sources, around 30 applications were received by the HED last week for the slot of VC as Dr Mujahid Kamran was going to complete his tenure on January 02, 2012. Dr Mujahid has high chances of achieving an extension, the sources said. His wife, Dr Najma, has 11 years of experience as a VC.
She holds a PhD degree in Psychology and a PhD degree in Neurosciences from the Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA. She was the founding VC of the Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi. Dr Najma has around 100 research publications and 50 research articles published in HEC approved journals, while 15 of her research articles have been published in impact factor journals. In her 33 years of university teaching experience, Dr Najma has worked in PU for 28 years.
The decision regarding appointment of the new VC rests with Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. According to sources, the Punjab government plans to investigate the academic record of the 30 applicants for proof of involvement in plagiarism.
According to the Higher Education Department, applications of the persons found to have plagiarised prior to the formulation of the plagiarism policy would be dropped, adding that the persons allegedly involved in sexual harassment would also be dropped.
