ISLAMABAD: It seems that the Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training has not much interest in the affairs of one of the top ranked universities Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) as despite the end of the agreed timeframe, the ministry could not resolve the issue of the university. The QAU remained closed for over 50 days by its faculty members as they demanded the removal of the incumbent vice chancellor Dr Javed Ashraf alleging that “he was incompetent for this post and had failed to run the university in an appropriate manner”. The academic activities remained suspended for many weeks. No institution including President Mamnoon Hussain who is also the chancellor of the university, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) which is the policymaking entity for higher education sector intervened to resolve the issues. After a 50-day long strike, the education ministry formed a 10-member committee to resolve the issues and a Term of Reference (ToR) was inked on March 28 after which the strike was called off by the protesting teachers and official business restored in the university. According to the copy of ToR available with Daily Times, the committee was headed by Federal Education & Professional Training Joint Educational Adviser Muhammad Rafique Tahir. Under the ToR, “VC Dr Ashraf consented to proceed on leave until the finalisation of proceedings of the committee and the committee will finish its proceedings within 10 working days,” while as per notification, the granted leave of Dr Javed Ashraf, is going to be over today (Monday). The sources said that so far, the committee called three meetings but could not meet any logical conclusion. The ToR stated that that no decision will be taken in violation of QAU Act and the decision of the committee will be binding on both the parties. Besides, it was reaffirmed that all decisions will be taken on the basis of documentary evidences provided by both the parties. A senior official of the ministry said that the priorities of the authorities can be judged from the fact that the QAU remained close for over 50 days while the ministry assigned the task to its adviser. When contacted, VC Dr Javed Ashraf refused to reveal that if he is going to rejoin or not. He said that “to give any kind of statement to media was prohibited in the signed ToRs that’s why they could not give any kind of statement in this regard”. Muhammad Rafique Tahir told this correspondent that three meetings were held so far and all these comprised on arguments while documentary proofs would be presented in the next meetings from both the sides. “Hopefully, the matter would be resolved soon,” he assured. On the other hand, a committee member who remained part of the strike threatened that if Dr Javed rejoins his office during the ongoing investigation then they will shut down the university again. He, however, admitted the expected loss of students in case of another strike but termed that they don’t have any other option. According to the available documents, Dr Javed was accused for “not being fit for this job and should be removed from the post immediately”. It was, according to the allegers, cited by HEC 73 pages inquiry report on QAU affairs. The report stated that the VC gave undue favours to some faculty members while giving them promotions and other privileges. The report also stated that the university did not take any concrete steps to fill key positions which had been lying vacant since years. “There were many other kind of allegations on the VC under probe by the committee including illegal appointments, investing endowment money in private banks without fulfilling legal formalities, abolishing of Mari chair and some others,” said an official in the ministry. However, Rafique Tahir said that factuality can be ascertained only after provision of documentary proofs, adding that verbal communication has no worth. Published in Daily Times, April 9th 2018.