Daily Times

It was with concern that one read the news of turmoil in Kinnaird College’s (KC’s) affairs. For some time it was apparent that things were heading in this direction, but one did not expect things to take the ugly turn the current situation suggests. The appointment of a registrar for the first time in the history of the college raised quite a few eyebrows among the faculty. Ninety-seven teachers of the college signed a document in protest against this decision and accused the principal as well as the new appointee of misuse of authority and financial irregularities. The dust had not yet settled on this controversy when the principal decided to remove seven teachers, including the heads of Political Science, Islamic Studies, Physics and Urdu departments, from their positions. Orders were passed to repatriate these department heads to the Punjab Higher Education Department. This decision has elicited strong criticism from within and outside the college. A large majority of senior faculty members refused to endorse what appears to be an arbitrary decision. In a simultaneous development, Lahore High Court Chief Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif has stayed the repatriation orders of two department heads on their petition in which they had argued that this decision was based on ‘malafide intentions’. These teachers had earlier registered a complaint against the principal before the board of governors of the college.

KC is one of the most prestigious women’s institutions of Pakistan and has been cultivating a fine breed of young women since its establishment in 1913. Since the first retirement of its former principal, Dr. Mira Phailbus, KC’s administrative affairs have come under public attention. But the current situation is the worst that KC has had to deal with in its entire history, reflecting badly on its image. The Punjab government has taken note of the matter and is likely to set up an inquiry tribunal to probe it. It is regrettable that outside authorities should intervene to resolve a matter that has created a confrontational environment. But that is perhaps now inescapable. The Punjab government should conduct an impartial and thorough inquiry into the allegations of arbitrary decisions and financial corruption. As a matter of principle, the government should appoint only those people as heads of prestigious institutions such as KC, who have a flawless record of academic excellence and personal integrity, who could work to maintain the standard and esteem of the institution. *