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Quaid-e-Azam University illegal appointment
Quaid-i-Azam University clarification
Islamabad, Feb 16, 2008: Reference to a news item headlined 'QAU ASA for registrar's removal'
published on February 13, 2008 [news given below], the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU)
Public Relations Office would like to clarify that some of the contents of the
story are totally false and contrary to facts.
The Syndicate of the
Quaid-i-Azam University has no serving or retired army general and no Syndicate
meeting was held in any residence. Notwithstanding the university position on
the registrar's issue, the registrar had neither any recommendation nor any
outside influence to get his appointment.
It should be noted that the
Higher Education Commission (HEC) has declared the QAU number one university of
Pakistan. The QAU is ranked second among universities of OIC member states.
Recently, the QAU has been ranked among top 600 universities of the world.
These distinctions have been achieved, inter alia, on following strict
merit criteria in administration, academic and research. False accusations are
meant to undermine these distinctions and tarnish the image of the QAU.
We firmly believe in the freedom of expression but professional ethics
demand that the university authorities should have been consulted before
publishing this news item. Therefore, we strongly protest the publication of
this story and demand the publication of our version. The News
QAU ASA for registrar's removal
Islamabad, Feb 13, 2008: The Academic Staff Association of Quaid-i-Azam
University here on Tuesday decided to hold a press conference to expose the
illegal appointments and irregularities in the varsity.
The ASA executive
council unanimously delegated powers to its President to hold a press conference
if he felt necessary on the administrative crisis the university was facing due
to illegal appointment of Registrar and others.
Executive Council also
pondered on the illegal promotions and the fate of Rs 6 billion announced by
former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on the occasion of Convocation of the
University.
The office of Auditor General has already objected to the
appointment of Registrar Col (Retd) Sajid Suhail who according to Estacode could
only be appointed on contract.
The Registrar has only 3-year post-Masters
experience as against the required 17 years and has no NOC from the Army, which
is mandatory according to per rules.
The ASA Executive Council also
discussed a news item published on Feb 12, 08.[given below]
The President,
Academic Staff Association Masud Akhtar informed the members that he had already
taken up the case of removal of the Registrar with the Vice-Chancellor who
wanted to discuss the issue with the chairmen individually to form an
opinion. The Nation
Illegal appointments
Islamabad, Feb 12, 2008: It was, consecutively, second time that the Federal Audit has
objected illegal appointment of a retired army official as Registrar of
Quaid-e-Azam University an induction in clear violation of the Establishment
Division rules.
Responding to queries, QAU top brass insisted
that it neither violated Estacode nor the Constitution of Pakistan in
re-appointing the retired army official on a key post that too on permanent
basis.
According to Directorate General Audit, the top varsity of Pakistan
irregularly reappointed a retired army Lieutenant Colonel as Registrar and a
retired Major as Senior Medical Officer on regular basis. The auditors noted
that the administration also did not bother to obtain No Objection Certificate
(NOC) from Ministry of Defence. The retired Lt. Col did not posses required
experience for the position literally pivotal to the varsity
criteria.
University Vice Chancellor, M. Qasim Jan when approached
categorically denied that Registrar was inducted on regular basis. His answer
was again 'no' when asked if the registrar's hiring was a contract based
appointment. Upon insistence, the VC abruptly described the status of the
registrar being on probation so far.
Setting the laws aside, the universal
personnel administration practice tells that a person who is hired on permanent
basis is initially put on probation for a specific period of time. It was
perhaps a futile effort on the part of person of a caliber and stature not less
than QAU VC and hide behind a defensive stance.
When his attention was drawn
towards audit objection he said," If they have written it (regular employee) its
their mistake. They should be asked to explain it". He said the audit did not
object the lack of experience of the registrar.
When the particular clause
objecting to the experience of the registrar was mentioned, the VC said he had
not read it. He said the future of the Registrar would be decided on basis of
his performance after the expiry of probationary period.
Wondering on the
VC's reply, the Registrar Quaid-e-Azam University, Lt. Col. Retired Sajid Sohail
said, " I am a regular employee, and it remains a fact". However, he claimed
that the Estacode was not applicable on the varsity whose decisions are taken by
a syndicate.
He said the objection was at preliminary stage and the similar
observation was also made last year by the audit that they had to drop and this
year it would again be dropped. He also claimed that people were raising such
issues as pressure tactics aimed at getting undue favours.
He demanded that
if his issue was highlighted other such matters should also come into limelight,
as according to him; the university was full of such examples.
Part-IV and
Para-18 of Establishment Division O.M No 14/5/78-D, III, dated 10 February 1981
says officers of rank on Major or Lieutenant Colonel and above and equivalent
who may retire or may have retired either after completion of prescribed service
or age limit or before such completion will be eligible for reemployment on
contract for 3 to 5 years renewable up to age of 60.
Another notification of
the Establishment Division makes it mandatory to get NOC from Ministry of
Defence to reappoint retired army officials against civilian positions. The
amended rules of Establishment Division in the year 2000 say the guidelines
would be equally applicable to all autonomous/semi autonomous bodies,
corporations, public sector entities etc, owned and managed by the federal
government.
The federal audit observes that Quaid-e-Azam University
reappointed Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Sajid Sohail as Registrar and Major
(retired) Syed Hassan Askary as Senior Medical Officer on regular basis instead
of contractual basis in violation of instruction of Establishment
Division.
It says these officers were previously employees of Armed Forces
and a NOC was required from Ministry of Defence for their reappointment. The
administration did not bother to obtain NOC from the Ministry.
The top
administration also relaxed the condition of 17 years experience after Masters
Degree for the post of Registrar. Sajid Sohail did his Masters in 2003, says the
official documents.
The retirement orders and last pay slip of Registrar was
neither available in the varsity office records nor provided to audit, due to
which, according to the audit officer, the detector was not in a position to
check the pay fixation of the officer concerned. The federal detectors also
found missing reasons of compulsory retirement of Senior Medical Officer and
sought it from the administration.
The sources said that the University
faculty has also shown its great concern on appointment of retired army
officials on key posts that too by violating the Estacode of Pakistan. It has
requested the Vice Chancellor to immediately remove such appointees in a bid to
save the reputation of the institution.
The Chemistry Department also raised
its voice over alleged inefficiency and malpractices of Registrar office. The
Department Chairman wrote a letter to VC dated 29-09-2007, pointing fingers
towards fishy affairs of the Registrar office
The sources in Federal Audit
Department said Registrar was completing his probationary period, which will
come to an end in a month time. They were of the view that after expiry of
probationary period it will be much difficult to remove the irregular
appointee. The Nation
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| Education News | | Updated: 09 Feb, 2012 |
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