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Peshawar University reshuffling | Nuclear status moot
UoP syndicate decisions attract mixed response
Peshawar, April 25, 2008: The reshuffling of heads of various departments of the University of
Peshawar by the Syndicate in its recently held meeting has invited a mixed
response from the senior faculty members, as one of the sacked chairmen has
decided to move court against what he called the unjust decision.
The
Syndicate replaced chairmen of several departments named by former
vice-chancellor of the university Prof Dr Haroon. They included Dr Fazlur Rahman
of Physics Department, Dr Mohammad Numan, director Institute of Education and
Research, Prof Dr AZ Hilali, Political Science Department and Dr Salahuddin of
Statistic Department.
Some senior professors were of the opinion that
the reshuffling was based on favouritism and nepotism. On the other hand,
members of the Syndicate opined that their very appointment was made out of the
way, which is why they were replaced.
Dr AZ Hilali, the deposed chairman
of Political Science Department, termed the decision of Syndicate as unjust and
said he would move court to seek justice. Talking to this correspondent, Dr
Hilali said that he was the lone teacher in the faculty of social sciences,
fulfilling the Higher Education Commission criteria for tenure track system. He
said he was appointed chairman of the department purely on merit.
During
his seven-month tenure as chairman, he did a lot for uplift of the department
and promotion of research activities. "It was during my stay as chairman that 15
MPhil students completed their studies," he said.
He said that the
decision of removing him as chairman was mala fide, as he had not completed his
tenure. "There were certain elements in the university as well as in the
department, who were hatching conspiracies against the competent lot on the
campus and hampered research activities, he alleged.
Dr Hilali said he
submitted an appeal with the Syndicate, vice-chancellor University of Peshawar,
and NWFP governor, requesting them to review the decision, as there was no
allegation or charge sheet against him.
The Syndicate members, however,
rejected the notion that any favouritism was made in the confirmation or
replacement of heads of various department. A senior professor of the
university, who happened to be a member of the body, said on the condition of
anonymity that there were serious allegations against Hilali. He said his
replacement was recommended by the faculty of social sciences dean Prof Dr
Naeemur Rahman and the Syndicate only approved the recommendation of the dean.
The serious charge against Dr Hilali was that his promotion as professor
was not made in the right way. "He was not eligible for the promotion because he
was not having the required experience. Dr Hilali had actually taken two-year
leave without pay, which could not be counted in his service experience.
"The former vice-chancellor counted those two years in his experience
and gave him the promotion, which was not correct," he claimed. There were also
charges of financial corruption against Dr Hilali, he added. "He should better
move court, but I think that will certainly backfire," he argued.
UoP to hold moot on nuclear status next week
Peshawar: The University of Peshawar (UoP) is arranging a two-day international
conference on country's nuclear status on April 28-29 at Sir Sabhibzada Abdul
Qayyum Hall.
The two-day conference on 'A Decade of the Nuclear Power of
Pakistan: Balance Sheet and The Way Ahead' is being jointly organised by the UoP
Department of International Relations and Hanns Seidel (Foundation) Munich,
Germany.
Prominent nuclear scientists, defence analysts and leading
foreign affairs experts are expected to speak at the conference. Delegates from
India, Bangladesh and China are also expected to attend the moot.
IR Department Chairman Prof Dr Adnan Sarwar Khan said the
conference would be the first of its kind by any educational institution of the
country. Dr Samar Mubarakmand; Dr Abdullah Sadiq; Dr Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema; Prof
Dr Adnan Sarwar Khan; Gen (R) Aslam Beg; Dr Moonis Ahmar; PR Chari, research
professor at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi; Dr Oliver
Thranert, head of Research Division, German Institute for International and
Security Affairs; Lt Gen (R) Talat Masood; and Prof Dr Imtiaz Ahmad, University
of Dhaka, Bangladesh are expected to turn up at the event. The News
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