Punjab Study

Lahore :January 10:After the Punjab University Academic Staff Association (PUASA) opposed the candidature of Dr Mujahid Kamran as vice-chancellor (VC) of the varsity for another four-year term, a group of teachers from the varsity has come forward to support him in this regard.

Punjab University’s Teachers Front (PU-TF), a group known to be supporter of Dr Mujahid Kamran, held its general body meeting at the varsity’s Old Campus here on Monday, condemning the ASA for allegedly pressurizing the Punjab government to appoint VC of their choice.

With Prof Dr Shaukat Ali in the chair, the meeting was participated in by a large number of teachers, including members of the Syndicate, deans, the heads of teaching departments, faculty members and researchers.

The meeting said Prof Dr Mahr Saeed Akhtar was no more president of ASA as he had allegedly violated the Association constitution by not completing the process of holding of elections of the teachers’ forum by the end of December.

However, Dr Mahr at a recent press briefing had claimed that the ASA had constitutional mandate till February 13, 2012. It is pertinent to mention that VC Search Committee had sent a panel of three most suitable candidates to the chief minister for subsequent appointment of anyone of the three as the new PU VC.

The panel comprises Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, whose term as PU VC expired on January 2, 2012; Prof Dr Jamil Anwar, former Pro VC of the Punjab University; and Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal Jadoon, Dean PU’s Faculty of Economics & Management Sciences. PU-TF meeting unanimously passed a resolution, stating that the ASA was meant to address the issues of the varsity teachers but the representatives of the Association had been allegedly pressurizing the Punjab government for appointment of the vice-chancellor of their choice.

The resolution also stated that the former representatives, even after completion of their turn, according to black and white rules and regulations, had not announced the election schedule because of their political designs. According to the resolution, if the schedule of the ASA was not issued in a week, a general body meeting of the teachers would be called and their memberships would stand cancelled. PU-TF general body demanded the Search Committee appoint the vice-chancellor in compliance with its rules and regulations.

The meeting also unanimously approved the resolution presented by elected member of the Syndicate, Shumaila Gull, in which the house showed complete satisfaction in remarkable increase in research, appointment and promotion of teachers on merit and establishment of peaceful academic atmosphere for teaching and research during the first tenure of Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran as PU VC.

In a press statement issued here, PU-TF’s Dr Shaukat Ali demanded Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif not to make give in to the propaganda of teachers with Jamiat background. He said the CM was expected to implement only the recommendations of the Search Committee, keeping in view his policy of good governance.

In a related development, ASA executive member Prof Dr M Aamir Hashmi has resigned from elected membership of ASA for, what he termed, illegal working of the ASA after December 31st.

According to the resignation letter’s copy, Prof Aamir resigned over the behavior of the ASA. One the one hand, the ASA is not even concerned about the issues of teachers community, on the other hand, it is criticizing the process of the Search Committee and pressurizing the government in the selection process of vice-chancellor, he explained the rationale behind the resignation.

It is also important to mention here that ever since the VC Search Committee had finalized the panel of three most suitable candidates for the post of PU VC, some quarters had been expressing concerns over third division of one of the candidates. There are rumors that the Punjab government has decided not to consider candidates with third division in the academic career for their selection as the VC.

However, sources privy to the developments, said no such decision had been made, adding that there had been instances in the past when candidates with third division were appointed as VC. If such people were eligible to teach at the universities as well as study at foreign varsities, why they are not short listed for the post of VC, or even subsequent appointment against such coveted post, they added.The news.