RAHIM YAR KHAN: More than 20 students of MPhil Education programme of the Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB), RYK Campus, are facing delay in completion of their degree due to a tussle between the head of department (HoD) and the campus director.

The Defense (viva voce) of MPhil Education students of Spring 2021- 23 session of IUB RYK Campus was due in May 2023 but it could not be conducted till the date.

According to Head of (Education) Department (HOD) Associate Prof Dr Muhammad Athar Hussain, out of the total 51 students in the MPhil programme, six left in the start and 14 were without thesis work.

He says that on 24th of June, 10 students of (supervisor) Assistant Professor Dr Muhammad Pervaiz completed their viva voce exam, while the remaining 19 to 21 students of three supervisors, Lecturer Darakhshaan Siraj, Lecturer Dr Faizul Hassan and him (Mr Hussain), are still waiting for their oral test.

He said that he had written a letter to Campus Director Umair Ashraf for making arrangements for conducting the viva voce exam of these students after the request of external supervisor, but Mr Ashraf did not sign it.

Later, he wrote another letter to Advance Studies and Research Board (AS&RB) IUB Director Prof Dr Asif Naveed Ranjha on July 17, 2023 to resolve the viva voce issue.

Giving background of the issue, Mr Hussain alleged that Umair Ashraf was appointed campus director by IUB Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr Athar Mehboob in 2021 without having a PhD degree, in violating of merit.

He said that reacting to the merit violation, he approached the VC with a request that he (Mr Hussain), being the most senior professor, had the right to be appointed campus director.

Later, he also took up the issue with the chancellor, and finally the matter was sent to the Higher Education Department (HED) for a decision.

Mr Athar further says that Mr Ashraf vide letter number 228/22/IUB/RYK/ADMIN, dated Dec 26, 2022, appointed a junior teacher, AP Muhammad Pervaiz, as HOD of the Education Department through a “fake” notification and in violation of the university statues.

Mr Hussain says he challenged the appointment in the court and the matter was sub judice.

On the other hand, Mr Ashraf claims that no viva voce exam of any student was cancelled. However, he said, the conduct of the oral exam depends on the availability of co-supervisors and external supervisors. As some of the supervisors were on training arranged by the HED, a few students were facing delay in their viva voce exam, he admitted, adding that their oral exam will be conducted soon.

When he was asked about his alleged tussle with HOD Dr Athar Hussain, he said it was a mere “allegation” and he would not like to comment on it.

IUB Public Relations Director Shehzad Khalid did not take the repeated phone calls by this correspondent for his stance.

The affected students are waiting for resolution of this critical issue so that they can avoid further educational loss.

Published in Dawn, July 22th, 2023