Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore director general to complete the inquiry into the transcript issue of the University of Sargodha (UoS) within a week. The chief justice was hearing a petition of students of private sub-campuses of the university at the Lahore registry of the Supreme Court. The top judge also ordered the director general to submit a report. Expressing concern over the poor quality of the sub-campuses, the top judge observed that the sub-campuses were awarding degrees without a regular faculty in place. While appearing before the court, UoS Vice Chancellor Dr Ishtiaq Ahmad said that the transcript issue at private sub-campuses had been resolved according to the court’s order. He said that they (sub-campuses) had allowed admissions over and above allocated seats in different programmes. “For example, computer science and IT Department enrolled 4,500 students in a year whereas the main campus enrolled just 1,500 students to maintain its higher standard.” He submitted that the sub-campuses conducted the exams of students on their own without any control and involvement of the university. The VC further said that the private campuses had been turned into money-making machines, cheating the poor and lower middle-class parents and playing with the future of youth. He sought the closure of sub-campuses and urged the NAB to bring the culprits to the book. Justice Nisar appreciated the work of the VC against the powerful owners of the private sub-campuses. The VC said that the University of Sargodha had established five sub-campuses allegedly without proper advertisement, open competition and proper feasibility studies. He said that CEOs of the sub-campuses also lacked expertise and experience in the field of higher education. He submitted that the public-private partnership policy was prepared in a haphazard manner without safeguarding the interest of a public sector university and completion of legal obligations. Published in Daily Times, September 7th 2018.