SWABI: The University of Swabi has terminated a total of 34 assistant professors, who had been serving in the varsity for the past seven years, it was learnt on Friday.

Sources in the varsity said that the terminations were made on Thursday, adding the university faced severe shortage of teachers after the sacking of 34 PhD scholars at once. They said the termination orders were issued by the university’s registrar.

The sources said that these scholars were first worked under the interim placement of fresh PhDs scheme of the Higher Education Commission, which meant they received salary from HEC.

The sources said at the end of their HEC term, the university had hired them on fixed pay. However, their services were no longer required to the university, they maintained.

The assistant professors were asked to hand over official documents, laptops and other items to the heads of their respective departments.

Of the terminated teachers, 11 worked in the agriculture department, five in chemistry department, four biotechnology department, three each in pharmacy, physics and environmental sciences departments, and one each in mathematics, microbiology, sociology, zoology and political science departments. Nasir Jamal Khattak, the Vice-Chancellor, was repeatedly contacted to know his version on the matter, but he did not attend the calls.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2023