ISLAMABAD: The Academic staff Association (ASA) of the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) Tuesday submitted a 250-page dossier comprising allegations attached with evidence to the committee probing allegations against varsity’s incumbent Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Ashraf. Following a strike of over 50 days mainly by ASA’s representatives against the QAU vice chancellor, the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training had formed a committee under Education Ministry’s Joint Educational Adviser Muhammad Rafique Tahir to probe a number of accusations levelled by the faculty against Dr Ashraf. According to the available documents with Daily Times, the ASA has submitted an over 250-page dossier to the probe body. An official privy to the development said that Rafique Tahir had assured the ASA that he would conclude the findings in the couple of days after seeking the response from the VC. Under the declared ToRs of the committee, it was decided that Dr Ashraf would remain on leave until the finalisation of proceedings by the committee within 10 working days. However, it could not be done as per the decision while Dr Ashraf resumed his office in violation of ToRs. According to documents, Dr Ashraf after assuming the charge issued show-cause notices to a number of faculty members leading the strike. The committee chairperson, Rafique Tahir, expressed concerns over violation of ToRs and also wrote to Education Minister Balighur Rehman but no action was taken against the vice chancellor. In their findings, the ASA members disclosed that the VC had invested a huge amount of university’s endowment fund in commercial banks “illegally”. The documents stated that the VC had invested a sum of Rs 160 million in the Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) Sector G-9 Markaz Islamabad, for a three- year time period. “Besides, he had also deposited Rs 500 million and Rs 78 in JS bank and others private commercial banks, respectively, without following the legal criteria in this regard,” the documents revealed. As per the rules, it is mandatory for the university’s administration to publish an advertisement to invite an open bid to make any kind of investment before the approval of the varsity’s Finance and Planning Committee. However, as per the documents, the administration did not adopt the practice and invested money without following legal procedure. Moreover, the closure of the university’s Linguistic Department by Dr Ashraf was also pointed out in the documents. “In 2016, he had issued a notification directing closure of the Linguistic Department. The university’s Syndicate had rejected the decision and asked authorities concerned to reopen the department. However, the syndicate’s decision fell on deaf ears. The ASA, in the documents, also accused the VC of making recruitments in the violation of rules. Some other irregularities, including “illegal utilisation of house rent allowance along with some other perks and privileges by the VC, were also highlighted. Besides, a heavy increase in the semester fee by QAU administration has been made part of findings. When contacted, Vice chancellor Dr Ashraf refused to comment over the matter, saying that he was not allowed to give any kind of statement to press under the ToRs. Published in Daily Times, May 23rd 2018.