LAHORE: The vice chancellors performing duties on `acting or lookafter charge basis` in four public universities say they will wait for a written order from the government to relinquish the charge following the Lahore High Court`s decision.

The government plans to file an intra-court appeal against the Lahore High Court`s decision of Dec 1 that had sought appointment of the most senior professors in terms of length of service by the Punjab government as VCs for the public universities in respect of whom the appointments have to be made. The court also directed the government to issue notification to the effect within seven days from the receipt of the order.Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, Prof Dr Uzma Qureshi, Prof Dr Nazra Sultana and Prof Dr Fazal Ahmad Khalid had been working as acting VCs at the Punjab University, the Lahore College for Women University, the University of Sargodha and Nawaz Sharif University of Engineering and Technology (Multan) respectively.

`I have been appointed as acting VC by the chancellor. So I will give up the charge as soon as I receive any order from the government,` says LCWU`s acting VC Prof Dr Uzma Qureshi. Speaking to Dawn, Sargodha University`s acting VC Prof Dr Nazra Sultana said there was no issue with her appointment. `There is no issue with my appointment as acting VC. I have not received copy of the LHC decision,` she added.A source in the Punjab University said acting VC Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran would leave the charge if advised by the government to do so.

`Along with the government, Dr Kamran is also a party in the case. So he also plans to challenge the LHC decision through an intra-court appeal after getting certified copy of the detailed judgment within next couple of days,` the official told Dawn.

University of Engineering and Technology VC Prof Dr Fazal Ahmad Khalid, who holds NSUET`s VC`s charge onan ofñciatingbasis,saidhe would wait for the government`s direction.

`I respect the court orders and will relinquish the charge as soon as I receive any order from the government,` he added.