ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Science and Technology has asked Comsats University to postpone the selection board meeting until the appointment of a regular rector and other officials.

“The proposed selection board may create legal implications so it may be postponed till appointment of regular rector and other officials of the university,” read a letter of the ministry issued on Dec 26.

However, Comsats started the 31st selection board meeting as per its schedule which would continue for three days.

Sources said the management of Comsats was of the view that being an independent body the university could hold the meeting of the selection board.

The sources said the representative of the ministry did not turn up at the meeting.

In absence of regular rector and other officials, the board will create legal issues, says ministry

“Today, we held meeting of the selection board though the ministry representative was not present. But our quorum was complete as the HEC official participated in the meeting,” said acting Comsats Registrar Dr Faheem A. Qureshi.

The selection board meeting was chaired by acting Rector Raheel Qamar.

However, the registrar told Dawn that “at this stage I can’t say anything when we will conclude the meeting as we have a number of campuses,” he said.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) through a letter on Dec 23 had informed Comsats that all cases which fulfil the eligibility criteria as per Tenure Track System (TTS) may be placed before the selection board and syndicate for approval.

The letter said TTS review committee visited Comsats University, Islamabad, on Dec 13 and 14 and evaluated 271 TTS faculty cases lying pending due to procedural delays.

An official of Comsats stated: “In clause two of the letter in question, HEC had stated that faculty members working on TTS and not endorsed by HEC would be transferred on their own pay scale like officer grade by the university.”

The HEC also advised Comsats that no faulty (existing/new applicants) subject to even previous advertisement was to be hired on TTS.

Comsats University has been facing administrative issues for the last few years as it is being run under an ad hoc set-up with acting rector, registrar and other officials.

Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Hussain Chaudhry has already requested President Arif Alvi to replace the acting rector of Comsats University, who is holding the charge in violation of rules.

The minister, who is pro-chancellor of the university, in a letter to President Alvi on Dec 5 said delay in the appointment of a permanent rector had created many issues besides causing serious legal implications which could be challenged in court.

The minister had also proposed three names to be appointed as temporary rector.

Meanwhile, Academic Staff Association of Comsats on Thursday held a protest walk on the campus and announced that from Monday they would boycott classes against the interim set-up and its policies.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2019