KARACHI: Higher Education Commission (HEC) has detected plagiarism in papers and thesis of vice-chancellor of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST), Dr Suleman D Muhammad.
Daily Times has learnt that the HEC initiated investigation in the matter due to differences of opinion of two university committees — one was constituted in 2012 and another in 2015.
In order to have independent evaluation of his thesis and papers, an expert panel comprising faculty members of relevant disciplines from different universities was constituted, official documents available with Daily Times revealed.
“After number of meetings, it has been concluded that falsification has been established in the thesis and papers. The findings were shared before the 23rd meeting of HEC and it has endorsed the conclusion drawn by the experts,” added the documents.
According to Muhammad Ismail, Consultant (Quality Assurance Division), HEC, Dr Zahid Saleem, in-charge Islamabad campus, FUUAST, informed that about 22 suspected plagiarized papers of Prof Dr Suleman D Muhammad on June 25, 2015.
He further added that his PhD thesis is also plagiarized but they were unable to locate it and requested the HEC to take appropriate action. In response to HEC letter, Registrar FUUAST sent a letter stating that the case has been properly investigated by the Plagiarism Standing Committee of the university which concluded that allegations of the complainant were ‘baseless’ and there was no need to process the case further.
“Dr Farooq Aziz, PhD supervisor of Dr Suleman, complained that PhD degree awarded to Dr Suleman D Muhammad and his appointment as Professor has been made in violation of HEC’s set criteria. He alleged Dr Suleman D Muhammad was allegedly involved in misappropriations, plagiarism and favoritism,” the documents further revealed.
According to HEC, the FUUAST did not respond and in order to get updates about the issue a letter was sent on May 29, 2015. The university responded through Registrar Asif Ali that previously there were governance issues at the university, due to which such complaints were made, now the situation has changed and Dr Suleman D Muhammad is appointed as in-charge of Islamabad campus of FUUAST.
Another letter was received in which the Registrar informed that the university has terminated services of Dr Suleman D Muhammad on the basis of plagiarism allegation which were proved by the experts from Quaid-e-Azam University and NUST, Islamabad.
Despite all this, the FUUAST vice chancellor is still enjoying the post with all benefits disobeying the orders of the HEC.