HEC probe into Peshawar University VC plagiarism

HEC asked to probe into alleged involvement of VC in plagiarism
Islamabad, June 17: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) governor's office has asked the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to constitute a committee under its supervision to probe into the alleged involvement of University of Peshawar Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr. Azmat Hayat Khan in plagiarism.

The HEC has received a letter (SO (HE.I)/6(1)6/010/1832-33) from the governor's secretariat on Thursday in which it has been stated: "Keeping in view the gravity of the situation, the governor-chancellor has been pleased to desire that the HEC may constitute a committee under its own supervision and furnish findings-recommendations for the perusal of the honourable governor KP."

The letter also mentioned the reference of the letter written by the HEC to the KP governor in which it has requested the governor-chancellor to probe into the matter of alleged involvement of the Peshawar University vice chancellor in plagiarism.

Sources said that the existing anti-plagiarism policy of the HEC is somewhat flawed as it does not include any rule or procedure in case of involvement of a vice chancellor in plagiarism. For this reason, the HEC has requested the governor to intervene into the matter.

According to sources, as per anti-plagiarism policy, vice chancellors are responsible to constitute a standing committee to probe into the case of plagiarism. The committee is responsible to report to the vice chancellor, but in this case the complaint is against a VC himself.

The letter mentions: "The HEC has referred the subject case to the University of Peshawar for investigation. But for the sake of justice, and as a common perception, the University of Peshawar could not conduct an independent, impartial and unbiased inquiry against the incumbent VC, being fully in charge of the university. Moreover, the satisfaction of the complainant - a university teacher - links his trust with the impartial inquiry conducted by the HEC."

According to information collected by this scribe, Dr. Khan, a former director of the Area Study Centre, has been accused by a university teacher, Muhammad Zubair, of including in his book titled 'The Durand Land: Its Geo-Strategic Importance' published in 2000 by the Area Study Centre, University of Peshawar, and Hanns Seidel Foundation, some passages from the book 'Pak-Afghan Relations', written by Dr. Kulwant Kaur of the Jammu University, Jammu, and published by Deep and Deep publications in 1985.

HEC Chairman Dr. Javaid Laghari said that it was too early to ask about the committee. "We have received the letter just today and it will take some time to constitute a balanced committee," he said.

He said that they want to constitute an entirely impartial committee whose findings are acceptable to both parties. "We are thinking of including a senior official of the HEC, most probably adviser on quality assurance, vice-chancellor of a public sector university and a VC from a private sector university," he said.

Laghari, however, assured that the probe into the alleged involvement of Dr. Azmat Hayat Khan in plagiarism would be speedy and the committee would be bound to submit its findings within one month.

Earlier, Dr. Laghari assured that the lacunas in the anti-plagiarism policy would be removed and amendments would be brought to the policy in context with the involvement of VCs in plagiarism.

Post your comments

FUUAST to have another campus
Islamabad: The ground breaking ceremony of the newly purchased land for Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST) Islamabad campus was held at Moza Mohrian, Kurri Road Zone IV, near Chak Shehzad on Thursday. Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr. Javaid R. Laghari graced the occasion as chief guest.

In-charge Islamabad campus Professor Dr Zahid Saleem briefed the chief guest about the project. Professor Dr Zahid Saleem said that eighty kanals of land has been purchased by the university for the new campus of FUUAST in the institutional sector of Islamabad. He told that the new building will initially comprise of two educational blocks, administration block and residential quarters for the staff.

Post your comments

Rs270m KMU budget approved
Peshawar: The Syndicate of the Khyber Medical University (KMU) here Thursday approved a budget of Rs270 million for the fiscal year 2011-12.

The seventh syndicate meeting of the KMU chaired by Vice-Chancellor Dr Prof Muhammad Hafizullah approved the budget and development projects including establishment of two new institutes at the varsity.

The Syndicate mandated formulation of KMU Audit and Accounts Committee to address the audit objections. It also authorised a research project 'Assignment of Community Participation in the Community Midwives programme' worth Rs4.2 million in collaboration with the British Council.

The eligibility criteria for the posts of teaching, non-teaching staff including professors, associate and assistant professors, lecturers, data analysts, curriculum coordinators and laboratory technicians for various institutions were also agreed in the meeting.

The Syndicate approved appointment of Dr Jawad Ahmad as professor, Dr Shafiq Ahmad, Dr Rubina Niaz and Dr Niaz Ali as associate professors and Dr Musharaf Jillani, Dr Wilayat Shah, Dr Sami Siraj, Dr Momin Khan, Dr Nuzhat Sultana and Dr Tauseef Raza as assistant professors on regular basis in the IBMS.

It was also decided that the appointment of the employees in basic pay scale 1 to 4 would be requested or directly appointed by the KMC through the employment exchange service of Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Syndicate also approved the establishment of Institute of Health Profession Education and Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Post your comments

78 teachers sacked in Orakzai
Kalaya: The political administration dismissed 78 teachers from service after their refusal to perform duty in Orakzai Agency, an official said Thursday.

Talking to reporters, Orakzai Agency Political Agent Riaz Khan Mahsud said the 78 teachers had refused to perform duty in lower Orakzai Agency despite the repatriation of the tribesmen. He said tent schools had been set up to resume the education activities in the tribal region in place of the 68 schools that had been destroyed during the militancy in the tribal region.

The official said over 22,000 students had started taking classes in lower parts of the Orakzai Agency. He added that more teaching staff had been transferred to those areas where schools had been made functional.

He said over 0.15 million people had been repatriated to the Orakzai Agency with the support of the international donor agencies and security forces. The administration, political agent said, constituted peace committees in these areas to maintain law and order. The news

Post your comments