DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Shah Farman has extended the forced leave of Gomal University Dera Ismail Khan Vice-Chancellor Prof Iftikhar Ahmed for 90 days.

Prof Iftikhar was sent on forced leave on April 22 by the governor as the chancellor of the public sector university over the former’s objection to the government’s decision to establish an agriculture university on the premises of the Gomal University.

“The Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa/Chancellor Gomal University DI Khan, in exercise of powers conferred upon him under Section 12(8) of the KP Universities Act, 2012, is pleased to extend the forced leave of Prof Ifthikar Ahmad, VC Gomal University for further ninety (90) days with effect from 21-07-2021,” read a notification issued in Peshawar.

After sending the VC on forced leave in April, the governor, who is the chancellor of all public sector universities in the province, had suspended Prof Iftikhar as the VC for formally conveying his objections about the agriculture university plans to the prime minister. However, the Peshawar High Court cancelled the suspension order on the plea of the VC and began contempt proceedings against the higher education department and Governor’s Secretariat, which produced a written apology insisting that the issuance of the order to remove the VC was a mistake.

The court accepted the apology and asked the Governor’s Secretariat to withdraw the VC suspension order.

On July 14, the high court asked it to produce the suspension cancellation order. However, the higher education department extended the VC’s forced leave.

When contacted, Prof Iftikhar said though the court had restored him as the VC, the governor didn’t act accordingly.

He said the extension of his forced leave was unjustified following the court’s order.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2021