ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Education and professional training has received the proposal summary of three nominees for the membership of the apex decision making body in Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) known as the Syndicate, Daily Times has learnt reliably.
Well informed sources in the ministry disclosed that the QAU senior administration sent the summary of three names including Wajid Rana, Dr.Nadim Shafiq Malik and Zulfiqar Ahmed Cheema, to the Minister Balighur Rehman for his approval of their inclusion in the Syndicate as its members.
As per QAU rules, the university’s apex body constituted for a three-year term. The incumbent Syndicate tenure was completed yesterday (December 30). In compliance with this rule, the management forwarded the proposal summary of the said names.
According to the rules, the apex body concludes the Vice Chancellor as its Chairperson, while its members would be one is Member National Assembly (MNA), to be nominated by the Speaker of the Assembly, one will the Chief Justice (CJ) of Pakistan or a Judge of the Supreme Court (SC) nominated by the CJ, one will be the Secretary, Ministry of education and professional trainings, one will be the chairperson of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) or his/her nominee, one senior dean in QAU to be nominated by the Chancellor on the recommendation of the VC, one professor of the varsity to be elected through voting of the professors, one associate professor of the varsity will be selected thorough voting by his/her colleagues (associate professors).
One principal of an affiliated college with the QAU to be nominated by the Chancellor, One ‘Alim’ to be nominated by the Chancellor, one woman nominee of the Chancellor and three persons of eminence to be nominated by the Chancellor, would be part of the Syndicate.
The sources in the QAU revealed that the last three members are proposed by the VC, Javed Ashraf, to Chancellor Mamnoon Hussain, and the chancellor approved them. In following, the summary was forwarded to the Education Minister Balighur Rehman.
The sources of the view that these three nominees are the close aids of the VC Ashraf, and he (VC), intends to make a decision in the future as per his own by in-taking them in the Syndicate.
“A majority of other prescribed members are the well-wishers of Ashraf so he would not face any kind of opposition in the Syndicate in case of selecting the proposed three members”, said a professor wished not to be named.
As per available information, Wajid Rana was a retired member of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) and also served in the the QAU on some key positions.
For example presently he was visiting a faculty member in the university while he remained as a member of many inquiry committees in the QAU.
A few months ago the university management created and advertised the post of Adviser Finance and Administration (AF&A). That position looked as advertised purely for Rana. For example in the advertisement the minimum age limit asked was 55 years old from the desiring candidates while the usually maximum age limit is demanded in the advertised jobs. Beside this Rana’s CV was totally matched with the required criteria for the said post.
However, in result of publishing the news report in Daily Times regarding this violation, the QAU authorities compelled to withdraw the decision of the appointment.
As per information available, the second nominee, Dr.Nadim Shafiq Malik, had also served in the varsity against the post of secretary to chancellor in the past while he also graduated from here.
Recently, he used to cancel his admission of PhD from the Anthropology Department. On this background, the sources informed, he could not be a neutral member of the important body of the varsity. He is also in the good book list of the VC Ashraf, they said.
As for as the third proposed member, Zulifqar Ahmed Cheema, is concerned, presently he is a member of the selection board of the varsity. Cheema was also a classmate of the VC Ashraf.
A professor says that in some sort of import decision, the partiality of the Syndicate would be affected as the same member is part of the board as well as the Syndicate, adding that Cheema was no longer with the academia as he is a retired IG of the Motorway Police.
An official of the ministry said on the condition anonymity that minister Balighur Rehman forwarded the summary to the HEC for its approval.
Despite repeated attempts both Rehman and his PRO Sana Hamid could not be reached to have their comments over the matter.
However, an official in the HEC, confirmed receiving the list from the education minister’s office.