PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Tuesday sacked the vice-chancellor of Gomal University and sent the vice-chancellors of University of Swat and Women University Swabi on forced leave for a period of three months over different allegations.

In this connection, the higher education department issued three different notifications about removal of Gomal University Dera Ismail Khan VC Prof Iftikhar Ahmed and sending VC of University of Swat Mohammad Jamal Khan and VC of Women University Swabi Prof Shahana Urooj Kazmi on forced leave.

Talking to Dawn, Mohammad Jamal Khan said that he was going to challenge the government’s decision of sending him on forced leave and allegations levelled against him in Peshawar High Court.

He termed all the allegations as false and based on mala fide.

He said that he was blamed by the government for faults committed before his appointment as VC of the university.

VCs of Swat, Swabi universities deny committing anomalies

University of Swabi VC Shahana Urooj Kazmi on Tuesday challenged the government action of sending her on forced leave in PHC refuting all the allegations levelled against her. She was not available for comments.

On April 22, Gomal University VC Prof Iftikhar Ahmed had been sent on forced leave for a period of 90 days by Governor Shah Farman, who is chancellor of public sector universities in the province, under section 12(8) of the University Act, 2012.

The provincial government was angry over Prof Iftikhar Ahmed’s letter he had sent to Prime Minister Imran Khan to intervene in the affairs of Gomal University where according to him a lot of issues emerged over upgradation of faculty of agriculture to the status of agriculture university.

The provincial government had sought explanation from Prof Iftikhar for bypassing it and approaching the prime minister directly.

However, instead of providing explanation to the government, Prof Ifikhar sent his resignation to the chancellor.

The chancellor, instead of accepting his resignation, first sent him on forced leave for a period of 90 days in April and on Tuesday he was removed from his post. He was not available for comments.

The Provincial Inspection Team had conducted an inquiry into allegations levelled against the VC of University of Swat while Governor Inspection Team had conducted inquiry against VC of Women University Swabi, according to both notifications issued by higher education department.

“The GIT concluded that VC of Women University Swabi (accused) has committed several acts of commission, omission and misuse of authority,” states the notification.

According to it, she has made appointments/reshuffling of staff illegally and inducted around two dozens of her own relatives and friends.

“Illegally recruited 21 staffers out of 23 from other provinces under Section 11(5) (d) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities Act, 2012 on positions purely exist in regular budget and should have been filled through competitive process,” states the notification.

It said that the VC of Women University Swabi was in a clear position to influence the outcome of independent departmental proceedings and may conduct herself in a manner prejudicial to the fairness, impartiality and objectivity of the inquiry, the circumstances thus clearly warranted that she should be sent on forced leave as provided under section 12 (8) of the KP Universities Act 2012.

The notification regarding the VC of Swat University states that the inspection team concluded that the VC was found negligent, lacking leadership qualities, involved in illegal appointments and inefficient by not filling the vacant positions etc.

Both the notifications state that chancellor of both universities, being competent authority, in exercise of powers vested in him under Section 12(7) of the Act shall provide an opportunity of personal hearing to VCs of Swat University and Women University Swabi in due course of time.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2021