Interview call keeps hopes alive for KU VC slot aspirants

The ambiguity surrounding the appointment of next vice chancellor of the University of Karachi (KU) grew on Friday when the Sindh governor’s Vice Chancellor Search Committee sent letters to the candidates for the coveted slot, asking them to appear for an interview on January 15 despite the fact that the tenure of current vice chancellor would expire on January 5.
This has paved way for a new debate as to whether the current vice chancellor would continue serving until the committee announces the name of the selected candidate or someone else would be given the charge of the acting vice chancellor after January 5.
As per precedent, the vice chancellor is appointed after the tenure of the sitting one expires.
However, the KU’s sitting vice chancellor, Prof Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqi, had a two-hour long one-on-one meeting with the Sindh governor at the Governor’s House on Thursday.
The contesting candidates received letters for interviews when everyone was expecting that a letter to be issued from the Sindh Governor’s Secretariat announcing another term for Siddiqi.
“Yes I had a meeting with the Sindh governor but we discussed routine matters of the university,” Siddiqi told Pakistan Today.
“I was never running for the slot and refused the governor’s offer to serve for another term,” he added.
Replying to a question whether he would serve as vice chancellor after his term expires and his successor is not yet named, he said the convener of search committee should be approached for this answer.
KU Pro Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Shahana Urooj Kazmi confirmed that she received the interview letter from the committee.
KU Faculty of Arts Dean Prof Dr Zaffar Iqbal, who is considered as the strongest candidate for slot, also confirmed that he has received letter.
However, he expressed reservations over the interviews being conducted after the tenure of the sitting vice chancellor expires.
KU Faculty of Management and Administrative Science Dean Prof Dr Abuzar Wajidi said this would be the first time that a KU vice chancellor would be appointed after the tenure of the sitting one expires.