LAHORE – Government College University (GCU) Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr Khalid Aftab’s 18-year tenure officially ends today and Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has ruled out the chance of any extension in his tenure. University officials and educationists are wondering who will be given the charge of GCU’s additional VC, in Dr Aftab’s absence.
GCU sources said Dr Aftab was reluctant to hand over the charge to anybody till the formal appointment of a VC, for which the process has already been set in motion. 68-year-old Dr Aftab’s tenure has been extended twice and now he was hunting for a third time extension, which the Punjab CM was not interested in granting, said GCU sources.
The educationists are demanding that Dr Aftab should ‘ethically’ leave the charge, following in the footsteps of former VCs of Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) and University of Education (UOE), while GCU’s faculty and students expect a clear-cut decision from the Punjab CM about the fate of GCU.
An Higher Education Department (HED) official said currently GCU had forwarded three names for the post of GCU’s additional VC; they include GCU Sustainable Development Center Director Dr Ameenul Haq, GCU Dean of Sciences and Technology Dr Ikramul Haq and Dr Hassan Shah, son of Syed Ameer Shah, an MPA in the tenure of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
Dr Aftab joined GC in 1967 and become the college’s principal in 1993. He took the charge of the first VC when GCU was declared an autonomous university in 2002. DR AFTAB STRUGGLES: According to an HED official, Dr Aftab did his best to get another extension but CM Punjab was ‘unhappy’ owing to the affiliations of Dr Aftab with former army rulers. He said that beside this, various issues at GCU including ‘favors’ given to GCU Registrar Faisal Khurshid by Dr Aftab was also a reason that forced the CM to avoid giving another extension to Dr Aftab.
He said that Punjab CM became more concerned after the ‘inappropriate’ performance of Deedar, an actress, on the university’s campus. He revealed that GCU’s faculty also wrote a letter to former Chancellor and Governor Salmaan Taseer (late) and CM in this regard and had requested to take notice of the ‘wrong doings’ of the management.
He said that Dr Aftab was not eligible to apply because the age limit for the post was 65 years while he is 68 years old. He said that former LCWU VC Prof Dr Bushra Mateen and Former UOE VC Dr Munawer Sultana Mirza set up a good example by giving up their seats. He said Dr Aftab also visited the Governor’s House last week, looking for an extension, but the meeting with the governor was not fruitful.
HUNT FOR VCs: Another official in HED said that department had already advertised for the posts of GCU VC along with the posts of VCs of LCWU and UOE. He said that the search for VCs of sixth different public sector universities of Punjab, including GCU had formally begun. February 4 was set as the last date for submission of applications and around 200 applicants have lined up for the coveted posts, he said. Now a search committee will select a permanent GCU VC and same committee will select VCs of the six public universities of the province.
I have kown the former vice chancellor Dr. Khalid Aftab very closely. He is a extremely hard working person who lifted GC to GCU and had a dream of transforming the institution into a World class university of high repute. I am sorry to know that some people for their vested interest has exploited the situation to oust him. He , indeed, worked day and night and made GC a real national entity and identity of the old Ravians. The list of his contribution to raise GCU is very long and men of small stature can never imagine about the wonderful job of this great man of the final quarter of 20th century for Punjab in terms of education. By the way, what have we done with Dr. Qadeer, Dr. Salaam and Dr. Atta -ur-Rehman? Dr. Khalid Aftab is another graceful addition in the list of those who sacrificed for their nation. He invested each moment of his life into GCU and what we have done with this gentleman? we as a nation always look at the faults of a person and ignore his achievements. He has given a lot to his GCU and his work will be appreciated by the liberal historian of the future.
Muhammad Iqbal Anjum
Toronto District School Board
Toronto, Ontario , Canada
I agree with you Mr.Anjum that we as a nation are intolerant but what would you say about the selection of a third divisioner Sahibzada Faisal Khurshid at the behest and recommendations of Dr. Aftab even though Sahibzada did not deserve to even teach in a university as a rule of constitution that says that " To serve as a lecturer in any Pakistani University it is necessary for a teacher to have at least first division in MA. Likewise, how would you justify Mujra in GC university? What about Sahibzada's character who has been using Hostel accounts for personal use.? He is the worst person I have ever seen who created bad blood between the staff of the GC and its first vice chancellor in order to become unlawful registrar of the university. He was the person who damaged the image of the vice chancellor by managing Deedar's mujra in the college's bokhari Hall. What do you say about him?
Dear Sardar jee I would like to share with you one thing that I have talked all about Dr.Khalid Aftab not about the Registrar. I am not pleading anybody's case. It was really shocking for me too that a kind of weird entertainment was organized but there must be somebody else behind the scene who arranged it all. I don't think nor I can ever believe the a graceful person like Dr. Khalid Aftab could have contact with Deedar. I strongly believe that he might not have even name of Deedar who she is. As a tradition, GCU used to invite singers every year to request the old Ravians of well-off families to donate as much as possible for what ? for the assistance of the deserving talent of the nation and Dr. Khalid aftab was the first vc who set up endowment fund for the sustainable support of the orphan, poor and talented students of GCU for their uninterrupted education and this is not his crime. I think he is a greatman with a braod vision, liberal thought and dynamic personality to guide and lead and I felt stab of pain when I read about him. He is great academic statesman of the nation. I know what he has done for his alma mater. Let me tell you Mr. Sardar I don't know whether you have ever entered the four walls of the GCU or not, but Dr. Khalid Aftab has his three generations as Old Ravian. Who can be more famous old Ravian than Appa Bano Qudsia and Ashfaq Ahmad ? you know they are ? These are the personalities who brought up Dr. Khalid Aftab. His real uncle and aunt. He is great intellectual and alas we have lost another statesman of his time. I don't blame your train of thoughts, we have ever lost great men and then repent on their loss that's our fate.
@ Mr Iqbal may i tell you one thing that Pakistan today is being paid by the Farhan ebadat yar khan and the Treasure to publish these type of news against the Registrar and VC.And one more thing i was present on the bonfire 2011 i accept that deedar was their she also danced and nothing happened after this with the registrar he had done nothing the main thing is that the people like Farhan Ebadat Want to take the seat of registrar he jealoused.
You may also knew that jo insaan bhi acha kaam karta hai wohi badnaam hota hai.
Respected Miss "Saima",
I think you have very much informations about the "Registrar Sahib"
And u sardar ahmad yar Sahibzada faisal khurshid is the oldest person teaching here from the last 25 years so plz think before u say
Paid Newspaper
Pakistan Today
I know Sahibzada Faisal Khurshid since he was my teacher. You don't know much about his misdeeds, he is person with third division, flattering nature and a worshiping person of every rising sun. He had no right to be a registrar while leaving behind PhDs. He has been charged many time for corruption in new hostel affairs. Everybody understands that he can't speak or write even couple of sentences in English and how he could work as a registrar? Thanks God, Chief Minister Punjab has taken the right decision of immediately getting rid of that corrupt person who used to act like a chainless king with boundless powers that emerged out of backbiting the vice chancellor against the staff all the time.
I know GCU staff which used to be the torch bearer of tolerance, self-accountability and honesty which has created men of intellect, bureaucracy, great politicians, Nobel Laureates, judges and men of ideas like Patras Bukhari. It is greatest institution of the country with liberal traditions and marvelous achievements in all realms of life. I think we should think twice before we open our mouth against such a graceful university of highest national repute not in terms of number but in terms of bringing up golden brains like Sufi Tabasam, Dr. Nazir, Samar Mubarak Mand, Ishfaq Ahmed and Bano Qudsia. The legendary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz is another star out of its galaxy of countless shining stars. We need to respect its dignity and should not defame an institution on account of just individuals' misdeeds. Mr. Ahmed yar " Could you be held responsible if your dad has committed a mistake?" If not please don't blame the institution for the former Registrar that you believe was corrupt or unlawful.
Iqbal Anjum Sb.
Although everyone has his/her own problems and concerns. i know you you are a gentleman and please dont fight a proxy war for the courrupt baba khalid aftab who was a ” prominent economist ” of pakistan and gave more then one “five years plan” to the pakistani nation.(may be that plans are the cause of current economic position of pakistan} he was not an angle. He was a courrupt baba u can meet him again in the model town park when u will come your beloved country. Baba Khalid Aftab was more then one time treated form foriegn countries on the university funds at the end let me say Khalid Aftab is not a “HAJI SANAULLAH” at all like ………..zada Faisal Khursheed. They both destroy my educational carrier through their policies those were time to time veriable for different students of the same session and the same class even many students were effected by them and now they have no future. Again i like you very much you were very good PRO at our beloved GCU Lahore during my session. Lekin Maray Huon Ki Haddian Kab Tak Bik Sakti Hai Sir Ji……….?
Apne ustaad ki izzat na karne wale tere sath bilkul sahi hua!
BY the way the gentleman aspires to serve the nation till death.
They both were the legends
thanks to u both for supporting both of them
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