Daily Times

In a big development, Saudi national Dr Ahmed Yousaf Al-Darvesh has resigned from the post of president of Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI), Daily Times has learnt reliably.

He, as per sources privy to the development, has been forced by the authorities concerned to resign.

Dr Ahmed Yousaf Al-Darvesh was in homeland Saudi Arabia to spend Covid-19 pandemic days as a precautionary measure. The sources disclosed that he sent resignation to Rector IIUI Dr Masoom Yasin Zai through WhatsApp on June 16.

When contacted Dr Masoom Yasin Zai confirmed the move. “He wrote a resignation letter from the post on June 15 and sent it to me,” he said adding that the resignation has yet to be approved by the Board of Trustee (BoT) chairman.

As per rules, the President of the country Dr Arif Alvi is the Chancellor of IIUI and chairman of its BoT.

The BoT meeting is scheduled on June 30 while till that time Al-Darvesh is official office bearer of the IIUI Presidency.

A senior official very close to the entire matter said that when BoT agenda was circulated among the concerned quarters, appointment of a new President was an agenda item among others. Over which, a Vice President (Administration Finance and Planning) Dr Muhammad Munir question that “why this point put in agenda list when the post is already filled?”. In response, the Rector told Dr Munir that the current President had sent his resignation to me as to why the University is looking for a new one candidate for this post. However, the official added, Dr Munir objected to this point and said that “this is not a proper and legal way.”

Right one day after raising objections over the move, Dr Munir was replaced with Dr Nabi Bux Jumani on June 17. The copy of notification available with this scribe. The sources added that Dr Munir paid price of his stance that he adopted the illegal step of the University administration.

When asked about Dr Munir’s removal, Dr Masoom Yasin Zai termed it a routine matter and claimed that there were no differences between Dr Darvesh and Dr Munir.

Dr Darvesh was appointed as President IIUI in 2012. After two years of his appointment, he had been given a 4-year service term by the then President of Pakistan which ended in 2018. After completion of one service term, he again had been granted another term that to be completed in June 2022.

According to information obtained by Daily Times, since his appointment Dr Dr Darvesh remained involved in many alleged mala fide practices. He gave a Master’s degree to his son in violation of rules. The University administration also held an inquiry on this issue and declared Dr Darvesh as the accused in the case. However, no further action had been taken afterwards. Some female harassment applications were also filed against him. Besides this, there was charge of some illegal appointments and promotions on him. Moreover, Dr Darvesh was also accused of some financial corruption in the varsity.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) started an inquiry against Dr Darvesh over many malpractices he has committed in the Varsity. According to the details, the NAB told about this inquiry in an official statement a couple of days ago.

Meanwhile, the IIUI media wing stated in an official press release that Prof Dr. Nabi Bux Jumani Thursday assumed his duties as Vice President (Admin, Finance and Planning). He has been given acting charge of Vice President at IIUI.

According to the statement Prof Jumani is among the very few who have experience of successfully launching online and distance learning programmes. Professor Dr. Nabi Bux Jumani had been working as Professor, Department of Education and Director Directorate of Distance Education, International Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan. He possesses diversified experience in administration, research and teaching.