ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: President Asif Ali Zardari has appointed an educationist of Saudi Arabia Prof. Dr. Ahmad Yousif A. Al-Draiweesh as president of International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI).

Dr Draiweesh was neither the applicant for the post, nor among those who were interviewed by the search committee, Dawn has learnt.

The post of President of has been lying vacant for almost two years after the retirement of Dr. Anwar Hussain Saddiqui in December 2010.

Dr Sahibzada Sajid-ur-Rehman was given acting charge of the post, and the management was assured that the university would soon get a full time president.

After a long wait, in February 2012, the then Rector Prof. Fateh Mohammad Malik formed a search committee for short-listing three suitable candidates for the post of the president of the university.

Chief Justice of Federal Shariat Court Agha Rafique Ahmad, Chairman of the HEC Dr. Javaid H Leghari, MNA and former adviser to the prime minister on education Shehnaz Wazir Ali, former governor of the State Bank Dr. Ishrat Hussain and secretary foreign affairs Salman Bashir were members of the committee.

Prof. Fateh Mohammad Malik was member/secretary of the committee and the post for president IIU was advertised by the HEC.

According to sources, more than 50 candidates applied for the post and 10 were selected for interview. It was for the first time that at least a criterion was set for evaluation of the applications. Nine candidates appeared for the interview on April 23.

In April 2012, Dr Malik sent three names which include Prof Dr Hafiz Mohammad Iqbal and Dr Mohammad Mumtaz to the President for nomination. But in June 2012 it was learnt that because of alleged intervention of Saudi ambassador whose country gives funds for the university, Dr Draiweesh would be selected for the post of IIU president.

A faculty member of the university requesting not to be identified said: “If this is the appointment procedure then why all this practice of formation of search committee, advertisement and interviews. It was nothing but waste of funds.”

On the other hand Prof. Dr. Ahmad Yousif A. Al-Draiweesh on Friday visited university and said: “He will give his 100 per cent to bring this university on a par with the prestigious and remarkable universities of the world.”

Earlier, on his arrival at the university he was welcomed by the academic and administrative officers of the university, and flower bouquet was also presented to him.

Dr Al- Draiweesh thanked the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari for his appointment as President, IIUI and said that he would try his best to come up to the expectation of the President. He also thanked the Khadimul Harmain Sharifain for choosing him for this post.

Prof. Dr. Masoom Yasinzai, Rector IIUI welcomed his appointment and considered it a good sign for the university. He hoped that his arrival will usher the Islamic University in a new era.

The university’s spokesman Hairan Khattak while talking to Dawn confirmed that Dr Draiweesh had joined the university as president and a notification in this regard had been received.