Dr. Uzma Qureshi becomes VC LCWU and Dr Ishtiaq Ahmad VC UoS

Decision for PU and MNS-UET still pending

By Asad Saleem

LAHORE: The Punjab government has appointed vice chancellors at Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) and University of Sargodha (UoS) for a period of four years after approval of the chief minister and the Punjab governor.

A formal notification was issued on Monday dated May 29, 2017 by the Secretary Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) in this regards. According to the notification, Dr. Uzma Qureshi has been assigned the responsibility as the vice chancellor of LCWU and Dr Ishtiaq Ahmad for University of Sargodha for a term of four years. However, the appointments has been made pending in the other two universities including Punjab University and Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Engineering and Technology (MNSUET).

It is worthy to mention here that in LCWU, where Dr. Rukhsana Kausar, who was appointed the acting VC by the Lahore High Court (LHC) and a candidate for the slot, had filed a representation against both the candidates, including Dr Uzama Qureshi and Dr. Sara. Due to Dr Rukhsan’s representation, the new decision regarding the appointment of Dr Uzma Qureshi is subject to the final decision of the complaint. The notification reads: “ the decision is subject to the final decision on the representation filed by Dr. Rukhsana Kausar. “Terms and conditions of appointment of Dr Uzma Qureshi shall be notified separately,” the notification states.

The notification also states that the provisional appointment of Dr. Rukhsana Kausar by the LHC had ended with immediate effect. Dr Kausar was on an official visit to Europe arranged by the Punjab government.

Both the candidates Dr. Uzma Quraishi and Dr Rukhsana Kausar had scored equally, 88 out of 100 in the evaluation of the Search Committee.

For the appointment of VC in Punjab University, Dr Mujahid Kamran, former VC PU who is currently serving as VC University of South Asia, Dr Zafar Mueen Nasir, acting VC PU and Dr Zakria Zakar, Dean Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences are the hopefuls. As per the law now, chief executive of the province, Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif is authorize to appoint any of the three candidates who have been shortlisted by the Search Committee. A decision of the Lahore High Court also allowed the Punjab Government to appoint any of the candidates as mentioned above. Dr Mujahid Kamran had scored highest 85 marks out of 100 among all three candidates, while Dr Zakria Zakar 83 and Dr. Zafar Mueen Nasir scored 80.

During few weeks earlier high level political lobbying was made by all three candidates to approach the chief minister Punjab for their appointment, sources told The Educationist. Rana Sanaullah, Ishaq Dar, Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab Education Minister Syed Raza Ali Gilani, Punjab Higher Education Commission Chairperson Dr. Nizamuddin and CM himself were directly and indirectly approached by the candidates. However, making this decision pending has raised many eyebrows.

The decision in PU will be with reference to the General Election 2018 and to fully control Islami Jammiat Tulaba (IJT) activists, according to the political sources.

For Mian Nawaz Sharif University of Engineering and Technology Multan (MNS-UET) Dr. Mohammad Zuber 89, Dr Shahid Munir 84.68 and Dr. Aamir Ijaz 83 are hopeful. Final decision is still pending.