Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Ashraf and his team on Tuesday expressed concerns over the impartiality of the committee investigating the allegations against the QAU vice chancellor. Accompanied by QAU Biological Sciences Department Dean Dr Shahab, QAU VC Dr Javed Ashraf said during a talk with reporters that he will not accept the decision of the bipartite committee, saying that his team has lost trust on the official who was chairing the committee. “We clearly found during the initial meetings that the committee chairman is biased,” Dr Shahab said adding that now he has crossed all limits as he practiced intentional delay to give final recommendations even after five months despite the fact that the time frame in this regard was committed to 10 days when the committee was formulated. “Moreover, all documentation also have been provided from both sides,” the dean clarified. Vice chancellor Dr Javed Ashraf said that the committee head Dr Rafique Tahir himself violated the set Terms of Reference (ToRs) after he deliberately stretched 10 days work to five months. The entire committee proceedings under Dr Rafique Tahir were similar of a fox guarding a henhouse, said vice chancellor Dr Javed Ashraf. “It was the real plan to prolong the proceedings and confining me in my residence,” he said. VC Dr Javed Ashraf said that legally, after the violation of a single clause of TORs, he was not bound to accept the decision which will be surely biased ‘if’ announced. Dr Javed Ashraf also said that the last meeting of the bipartite committee was held more than two months ago and the next meeting date has still not been announced. “Meanwhile, the committee head Rafique Tahir has said the matter will be concluded in 10 days,” he said. The committee meetings rather than working in a productive and professional way were revolving around the committee head’s personal life stories and achievements, he said. Responding to a query regarding non-provision of the documents to the committee by the administration, the VC said that all documents demanded by the Academic Staff Association (ASA) have been provided. “All authentic documents consisting of 14 volumes including the classified details were also provided to the committee but it failed in deciding the matter in five months,” he said. The VC also stated that Tahir had revealed classified correspondence of the university to the ASA for which he was not authorised to do so. The VC said that he accepted the proposal of 10 days’ leave in the agreement done on May 28, 2018 to reinstate the academic activities in the university, but in fact Tahir had “trapped” me to keep me away from my office. “I was assured by high officials of the ministry that the committee will resolve the crises in 10 days,” he said. Javed Ashraf also said that he later informed former education minister Balighur Rahman of the biasness of the committee head and his soft corner for the ASA. The VC also revealed that when he resumed office after his 21 days’ leave, the ASA created a scene in his office and forced him to leave. “ASA President Dr Aqeel Bukhari threatened me, giving me five minutes to leave the office otherwise I would be thrown out from the seat,” he said. The VC said that the committee head didn’t take notice of this unlawful act of the ASA and wrote a letter to him for reverting the show-cause notices issued to 22 faculty members for creating disturbance in the administration office. Responding to the continued friction between him and faculty, the VC said that all the agitation started when he resisted and the syndicate didn’t approve the illegal promotions of the few faculty members. “Everything is on record. The said faculty members lacked the required experience, research criteria or were demoted on the recommendations of Higher Education Commission (HEC) and some of them deserve to be dismissed according to their track record,” he said. “I was accused for victimisation, but in fact the ASA members had made the university and the administration hostage through hooliganism,” he added. The ASA members including former ASA president Dr Asif Ali, who according to the VC remained more active in making propagandas against him as he refused to give him illegal promotion, were called for explanations regarding financial corruption allegations on him, but they didn’t respond or backed down from the allegations levelled in official proceedings, VC claimed. Denying any chances for applying for an extension, Ashraf said, “Here, only the person who can bow before the ASA can work.” Published in Daily Times, September 13th 2018.