Islamabad - The Quaid-I-Azam University yesterday distanced itself from a letter written by its teachers’ association to chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) for interfering in varsity matters and annulling some controversial appointments made in the top higher learning institute some three months back.
The varsity administration without the endorsement of the HEC had appointed (promoted) some five assistant and associate professors on Tenure Track System (TTS) who did not meet the set criteria for the appointments. The promotions of varsity teachers working on TTS to next positions are called appointments as the prospective candidates apply afresh for the positions and HEC’s endorsement for the promotions is also a prerequisite.
HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmad had pointed out the anomalies in the appointments in a varsity’s Syndicate meeting early this month that prompted all the members of Syndicate, including parliamentarians to unanimously annual the appointments.
The faculty members whose appointments were cancelled blamed the HEC chairman for the move, terming it abuse of authority and interference in university matters. They also objected that there is a proper procedure to review appointments that was not followed and merely on verbal orders appointment cannot be annulled. The concerned teachers who are leading teachers’ association also warned the chairman of protests through a letter written by the Academic Staff Association (ASA).
But the university yesterday issued a statement that said: “The letter sent by the ASA to the HEC Chairman has no official standing and does not represent the official position of QAU on this, or any other, matter.”
The vice chancellor during the Syndicate meeting had accepted that “he was coerced by the faculty members who are leading teachers’ association
to approve the appointments”.
Regarding the controversial appointments, the university said: “There are a couple of cases that proven difficult to resolve owing to lack of clarity on the Government of Pakistan policy on the service of TTS faculty members on Pakistan chairs abroad. HEC and QAU are working to resolve this serious lacuna in the policy/rules, which is contrary to the spirit of TTS but not adequately covered by the letter of TTS. The QAU stands with its faculty members appointed to such prestigious chairs by the Government of Pakistan and considers it unfair to punish those who serve on them by delaying their tenure.”
There are other cases that have been reported by name in the news media, it added, and QAU does not approve of such violations of the privacy of individual faculty members whose cases are at various stages of appeal.
“The QAU also does not approve of faculty members who attempt to try their cases in the media or generate controversy in such a manner,” it added.
All decisions on TTS will be based on merit, in accordance with the rules, and be duly implemented in the case of tenure-track faculty upon concurrence by the HEC as required by QAU TTS Statutes, the varsity said.