Delay in appointment of vice chancellor: FUUAST teachers decide to file petition in court

Teachers of Federal Urdu University of Arts Science and Technology (FUUAST) have finally decided to file petition in Supreme Court of Pakistan against the delay in permanent appointment of vice chancellor of the university, sources told Business Recorder.
Though the President of Pakistan had rejected three names forwarded to him by Senate for a new vice chancellor in February after Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Dr Javaid Laghari, had objected that these candidates were not competent.
A letter written to M Salman Faruqi, Secretary General to the President by HEC chairperson of which copy is available with Business Recorder stated: "All three short-listed candidates had scored considerably low according to the HEC VC selection criteria (highest score obtained being 42 percentage for the top candidate and lowest score being obtained 32 percentage, which are all low scores and that there should be a new panel for the position of the vice chancellor".
Teachers see political motives behind HEC chairperson's move of suggesting President to categorically reject the Senate's recommendations. They alleged that some anti-education elements have the intensions to get their favourite person appointed for this post beyond the merits. The Senate after voting had recommended the names of Dr Altaf Hussain, Dr Zafar Iqbal and Dr Moinuddin Ahmad for VC slot.
Sources said that teachers association of FUUAST would file petition in Supreme Court over the delay in the appointment of VC after Senate endorsed its former decision and resend previous three proposed names for the post of vice chancellor. They said that HEC chairperson has proposed new panel for VC post and suggested President to appoint an acting vice chancellor till the appointment of permanent VC.
Sources said that all three short-listed candidates were interviewed by seven-member panel at President Secretariat other day. The interview panel comprised of HEC Chairperson, Dr Javiad Laghari, Vice Chancellor Karachi University, Dr Mohammad Qaiser, Vice Chancellor Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad, Dr Massom and others. President Teachers Association Professor Javaid Iqbal informed that meeting of selection board meeting for the appointment of professors and associate professors could not be held for last six months due to absence of permanent VC, adding that varsity was undergoing with extremely poor management. He said that many teachers and other staff are waiting for their promotions besides selection board has also become dysfunctional.