Daily Times

I had joined university some 17 years ago, since then I found here one hard-hitting task that is nomination of faculty in the Syndicate. As Syndicate is an apex decision making body of the varsity, without its complete formulation not a single decision could be legal either that is related to faculty or overall administration, however this trenchant chore have been done finally.

This was stated by a senior administrative official in the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) Islamabad. While anonymity, he explained that he saw first time such harmony among faculty that the Syndicate’s election for nomination for Associate Professor and Professor has been done even in the days when academic activities in all educational institutions of the country are almost suspended in backdrop of coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).

Current Syndicate completed its three years tenure with its last meeting that has been held last month and new nomination of its members would be done as per set criteria. Other than Associate Professor and Professor, the selection of other Syndicate members yet to be practiced.

As per University charter of rules, there are two seats reserved for faculty in the Syndicate, Associate Professor and Professor. Both the members are supposed to represent the overall faculty staff as well point out legal deficiency other than assistance during legislative debate of this prime forum. Both are selected through voting system from respective designations voters.

By bagging 37 votes each, Dr Tasawar Hayat and Dr Sohail Yousaf have been nominated as Associate Professor and Professor respectively for new Syndicate through election held a couple days ago. The election held amid coronavirus pandemic spread days. However, according to the Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Ali, all voting faculty were strictly prohibited from every sort of crowd or gathering on electoral day.

Dr Tasawar Hayat defeated is professor at mathematics department and defeated his counterpart Dr Irfan Zia Qureshi (animal sciences) who got 12 votes while Dr Asif Ali of mathematics department got 22 votes defeated by Dr Sohail Yousaf of environmental sciences.

Besides Associate professor and professor, the Syndicate is consisted on the Vice Chancellor as its Chairman, one member of the National Assembly to be nominated by the speaker of the Assembly, the Chief Justice of Pakistan or his nominated judge of the superior court, the Secretary Ministry of Education, one nominee of the Higher Education Commission, one Dean (of the varsity) to be nominated by the Chancellor on the recommendation of the VC, three persons of eminence to be nominated by the Chancellor, one Principal of an affiliated college to be nominated by the Chancellor, one Alim to be nominated by the Chancellor , one Woman to be nominated by the Chancellor.

As per law, President of the country is Chancellor of the QAU.

The Syndicate in its last and 176th meeting in last month took up 23 regular agenda items and 13 table agenda items.

The well informed sources told this scribe that among some other important decisions, suspension of Dr. Saeed ul Hassan Khan, Assistant Professor in Animal Sciences department was one of them.

The documents revealed that the Joint Joint Executive Director, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Islamabad lodged a complaint against Dr Saeed Ul Hassan Khan for slapping a nurse of the hospital during his visit as attendant with his father’s some sort of medical checkup in the hospital. The FIR was registered against Dr Dr Saeed ul Hassan Khan but later he had been granted bail from the court.

However, now some syndicate members Senator Shibli Faraz, Senator Mushaid Ullah Khan and MNA Ali Awan have expressed serious concern and unanimously directed university administration for suspension of the accused immediately while the varsity complied on accordingly. The VC Dr Ali confirmed the decision and compliance.

Besides this, the Syndicate resolved to approve some key appointments which included as Dr. Tanvir Anjum as Chairperson of History department, Dr. Abdul Rehman as Director school of management sciences, Dr. Nawazish Ali Khan Chairperson department of Physics, Dr. Farhan Hanif Siddique Director School of Politics and International Relations, Dr. Sohail Yousaf Head of Environmental Sciences and Dr. Gul Shahnaz as chairperson Pharmacy department.