By Ali Raza
FAISALABAD: Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Dr. Iqrar Ahmed, has strongly criticized an order passed by the Punjab Governor, which declared 228 appointments and promotions illegal.
Dr. Ahmed alleged that the Governor is pursuing a political agenda, targeting universities as easy scapegoats.
Previous Appointments of Vice Chancellors
Through an open letter, Dr. Ahmed said that the governor recently refused the appointment of 24 Vice Chancellors recommended by the Chief Minister Punjab. Despite his disapproval, he said these appointments were later made with legal backing.
He also accused the Governor of publicly maligning search committees by alleging corruption in the selection of Vice Chancellors—an unfounded and irresponsible claim against esteemed members of civil society, Dr. Ahmed added.
Allegations of Irregular Appointments
In the letter, Dr. Ahmed mentioned that the governor’s order conveys that the vice chancellor recruited 228 people without advertisement. As per the law, the VC lacks the authority to make such appointments in grades 17-21, and no regular academic appointments cannot proceed without advertisement.
Statutory Process for Vacancy Budgeting
There is a statutory process for budgeting vacancies every year through a Finance and Planning Committee, Syndicate, and Senate. The Senate is chaired by the Governor or his nominees. Only budgeted vacancies are eligible to be filled, he said.
Critical Faculty Shortage at UAF
According to HEC standards and accreditation council requirements, UAF needs a minimum of 1,100 faculty members to cater to 35,000 students across five campuses, maintaining a 1:30 teacher/student ratio.
Ideally, the ratio should be 1:20, which would require 1,700 faculty members. Currently, he claimed the university has approximately 700 full-time faculty members.
Limited Recruitments and Promotions
Between 2017-2021, he said there were around 50 recruitments and promotions, largely due to litigation, while many others retired during the same period.
The entire campus community was frustrated due to lack of promotions, prompting many to leave the university.
Concerns Regarding Future of Recruitment and Promotions
Dr. Ahmed claimed that the governor’s order would likely trigger a new wave of litigation, potentially lasting several years. This could halt further recruitments and promotions, ultimately leading to a significant decline in the quality of education and research.
Recruitment Process and HEC Mandates
To address the pressing shortage, he explained that advertisements were issued in 2022 and 2023, attracting thousands of applications. The statutory process requires a thorough evaluation of each candidate’s eligibility. Ineligible candidates must be notified and given an opportunity to appeal.
Once appeals are resolved, the dossiers of eligible applicants are forwarded to panels of experts, including foreign evaluations of TTS faculty (Tenure Track System). On average, the processing time for an advertisement exceeds one year. The HEC has mandated that recruitments from the 2022 advertisements must be completed by August 31, 2024.
Selection Board Meetings and Decision-Making
During 2023-2024, over 100 selection board meetings were held, resulting in recommendations for more than 500 appointments and promotions to the syndicate for approval.
“It is important to note that the selection board comprises a member from the Punjab Public Service Commission, three eminent persons, experts, deans/directors, and departmental chairs.”
The VC serves only as a convener with a single vote. Convening these meetings with the required quorum and ensuring the availability of out-of-town members is a herculean task. Typically, he said that such meetings are organized consecutively during the summer months.
Legality of Meetings During the VC’s Tenure
There is no legal or policy restriction preventing the VC from convening/chairing meetings in the last months of his tenure. This was merely a continuation of the processes established over the past two years.
Composition of the University’s Syndicate
It should be noted that the university’s syndicate comprises 17 members with appointing authority. These include a high court judge, three provincial secretaries, an HEC nominee, and three eminent persons appointed by the government, including the sitting chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology.
In his order, the Governor referenced a letter from the HEC concerning the last syndicate meeting, during which five promotion cases were approved with proper quorum. Notably, he said the HEC nominee attended all the syndicate meetings challenged by the Governor without raising objections to the appointment decisions.
Lack of Legitimacy in the Governor’s Order
Under Section 11-A of the University Act, the Governor holds revisional powers, with the proviso that no adverse order can be passed without granting personal hearings to the affected parties.
The governor’s order lacks legitimacy as it was issued without fulfilling legal requirements, particularly the provision of personal hearings to the 228 affected people, as well as to the members of the selection boards, syndicate, and the former vice chancellor.
Questions Regarding the Governor’s Actions
A brief analysis of this order raises critical questions: If the Governor intended to invoke his powers during his October 8 visit to the university, why did he not summon the sitting vice chancellor at that time? Why wait until October 21—a day after the VC’s retirement—to seek records?
Why was justice not ensured through personal hearings? A pressing question remains: Why are emissaries from the Governor’s House advising affected parties to file review appeals?
Governor’s House Interference
I possess records showing that the Governor’s House submitted ‘wish lists’ both before and after October 8 and followed up until October 19. These were denied because they did not align with merit.
Subsequently, on October 21, records were sought by the Governor House, and the order was hastily issued as a punitive measure against the outgoing VC.
Impact on Affected Individuals and the University
“In this insinuating process, the careers of 228 meritorious citizens and elite academic community members have been destroyed–condemned unheard.”
The Governor’s actions have also tarnished the reputations of highly respected members of the selection boards and syndicate without affording them a fair trial.
The integrity of these statutory bodies is well-established, a standing order from a former Governor (Lt. Gen. Muhammad Iqbal) exists refusing to question evaluations made by selection boards. This action appears to specifically target the former VC out of personal vengeance, Dr. Ahmed said.
Campus Outcry and Legal Challenge
The outcry among the UAF campus community is genuine.
“I am certain that this governor’s order lacks transparency and proper legal force. Affected parties are likely to challenge this order—a preferable option over review appeals before the Governor. As an affected individual, I also intend to challenge this governor’s order in court.”
