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Academic body objects to ITU VC appointment

By Our Staff Reporter 2015-10-14
LA HORE: The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association has said the public-sector general universities have been deprived of representation in the Punjab Higher Education Commission after the appointment of the Information Technology University vice chancellor.

Association President Prof Dr Naimatullah Laghari has urged the government to de-notify Dr Umar Saif`s appointment.

`After retirement of Government College University Vice-Chancellor Dr Khaleequr Rehman, the government should have appointed a vice chancellor from public-sector general university but it chose to appoint a VC of technical university thus depriving the general varsities of representation in the Punjab HEC,` Prof Laghari said in a statement here on Tuesday.

He said Dr Saif was an assistant professor of a private university when he was appointed VC to the utter surprise of teachers all over the country.

`The senior faculty members in public universities are worried over Dr Saif`sappointment as PHE C member because he does not have required administrative skills, ability and experience to handle affairs of the universities in Punjab.

How a junior person can be appointed to a higher body to deal with vice chancellors, deans and professor.

He is not even eligible for appointment as VC,` he said.

Three vice chancellors are ex-offico members of the PHEC out of which one is from public sector technical university, one from public sector general university and the third from a private university. `After appointment of Dr Saif as PHEC member, now there are two VCs from public sector technical universities, which has deprived general universities of their representation in the apex body,` Mr Laghari said.

Umar Saif rubbished the criticism over his representation in the PHEC, saying such associations should better focus on the improvement of education standards in the country.

`There are many other members in the PHEC and I will give my input for the betterment of higher education in the province,` he told Dawn.