Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Sub-Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training in the Upper House of the Parliament is likely to give a tough time to the former acting Vice Chancellor (VC) of Hazara University, Dr. Sohail Shahzad, over financial and administrative embezzlements.

The misuse of authority at the aforementioned university was first highlighted by Senator Azam Khan Swati, who made allegations that the administration had made beyond the rules appointments and that they were also involved in financial corruption. In response, a special subcommittee of the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training was constituted under the headship of Senator Sehar Kamran.

However, the committee has been working on the issue for the last couple of months and it is expected that the things would be concluded during the next meeting of the committee.

Meanwhile, the time period of the said committee expired and a new committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Senator Noman Wazir Khattak. The committee tasked the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to probe the matter thoroughly and submit its report before the committee.

On Monday, a comprehensive report was presented before the committee, which pointed out several irregularities and loopholes in the functioning of the Hazara University.

The report stated that the former VC had issued Rs 400,000 to each dean and Rs. 200,000 to each head of the separtments for the renovation and refurbishment of their offices and stated that this payment was apparently looking dubious.

The report also highlighted the misuse of government vehicles, illegal appointments, and dubious payments to lawyers for representation at the Supreme Court on the behalf of the university.

Moreover, the inquiry report further highlighted the irregularities while awarding the contract for the construction of a park within the university campus.

Responding to the findings of the probe report, the former VC, who is currently working as the head of the law department at the same university failed to satisfy the committee members.

In response, the chairman of the committee lambasted the former vice chancellor and said it was clearly indicated by the report and “your” response that the functioning of the university was not smooth as every matter was in the court. He stressed that the HEC should take action against those who were involved in the irregularities and ill practices.

At one stage, when Senator Azam Khan Sawati pointed out a contradiction in the figures stated by Dr Sohail Shahzad before the committee and the actual figures received by the senator through the “Right to Information Law” previously, the chairman categorically warned: “We will send out handcuffs from this room to those people, who try to mislead this forum.”

He said further: “We will set an example by giving strict directions against the culprits, who destroyed an important seat of learning.”

The proceedings of the committee were deferred till next Monday with clear directions to the HEC for the completion of the remaining probe and it was decided to conclude the matter in the next sitting.

Talking on the issue, the Chairman HEC briefed: “We believed in good governance and quality, but unfortunately the commission is not empowered to interfere in the internal affairs of the university.”

The members of the committee urged the Chairman HEC to propose a legislation to make the commission more powerful and also assured their full support for the said legislation on the floor of the House.

Senator Mushaid Hussain Sayed, Senator Nuzhat Sadiq, Senator Azam Sawati, Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Federal Secretary Education Muhammad Humayun, representative form HEC and the Hazara University were also present at the meeting.