ISLAMABAD: Finally, the International Islamic University Islamabad is all set to have its new president as the university’s Board of Trustees (BoT) headed by President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday approved the appointment of Saudi educationist Dr Ahmad bin Saad Al Ahmad on the coveted post.

The BoT, which met at the Presidency, discussed three shortlisted names of experts, which had been finalised by a committee, and picked Saudi educationist Dr Ahmad bin Saad Al Ahmad, assistant professor of physiology at Al Imam University in Riyadh.

The post of the president IIUI fell vacant in July last year when another Saudi educationist, Dr Hathal Hamoud Alotaibi’s tenure came to an end. There were reports that Dr Ahmed will be appointed in his place as the media was reporting that his name was almost finalised and only procedural work was to be done. Finally, the BoT on Tuesday approved his name from the panel of three candidates.

Like the office of the president, the position of rector IIUI is also being run on ad hoc basis for the last many months as Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr Mukhtar Ahmed is looking after the affairs of the office. Last year, then Rector IIUI Dr Samina Malik was suspended and removed on the direction of the Supreme Court. The apex court directed that a competent person must be appointed rector. The Supreme Court directed that the chairman HEC or his nominee should be appointed as the acting rector till hiring of the permanent rector. However, the process for hiring a new rector is yet to be started by IIUI and the education ministry.

Meeting chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari approves appointment of Dr Ahmad bin Saad Al Ahmad from a panel of three shortlisted candidates

Recently, the education ministry sought legal opinion from the ministry of law and justice regarding the sacking of Dr Samina Malik.

The education ministry sources said that recently a letter was sent to the law ministry stating that the president of Pakistan was the authority for appointment of the rector IIUI; however, the ordinance of the university was silent about the termination/removal of the rector.

“Also, the judgement of the Supreme Court does not explicitly remove the Rector IIUI from service,” read the letter.

“In view thereof, ministry of law and justice division is solicited for advice regarding the suitable course of action to be taken regarding removal or otherwise of the suspended Rector IIUI and for possible recruitment of new Rector IIUI before the matter may be accordingly placed before the President/Chancellor IIUI,” read the letter of education ministry.

It is relevant to note here that IIUI is one of the major public sector universities and like many other higher educational institutions it has been facing financial issues.

The ministry of education recently requested the federal government to release an additional grant of Rs2.5 billion for three public sector universities – IIUI, Quaid-i-Azam University and Federal Govt Urdu University; however, the grant is still awaited by these universities.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2025