Islamabad - Professor Dr Muhammad Qaiser assumed the charge of Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences and Technology (FUUAST) Islamabad as acting vice chancellor as per the decision of the university senate, although, the matter is still subjudice.   
The vice chancellor after taking charge Thursday in the main Islamabad campus of the university issued orders for the employees, directing them to obey his orders instead of Vice Chancellor Dr Zafar Iqbal who has been sent on forced leave since March 12, 2015.  
The Senate — highest decision-making body of the university — on December 20 had sent vice chancellor Dr Zafar Iqbal on forced leave on charges of corruption and irregularities at the university, asking Dr Qaiser to look after the affairs for three months. Dr Qaiser is vice chancellor of Karachi University.
But Dr Iqbal challenged the decision in Sindh High Court and got stay order against the decision. The court on March 11 vacated the stay for 24 hours then again recalled it on March 12.
But during the vacation of the stay Dr Qaiser assumed charge that court validates as well. He again waited for the court to announce any final decision but after a long wait he finally joined the university as vice chancellor on Thursday.
The university senate met at the President House had sent Dr Iqbal on forced leave so that the alleged involvement of him in a Rs150 million embezzlement scam could be probed impartially.
The senate had met after months of protests by the employees of the Islamabad campus against vice-chancellor’s alleged mismanagement and involvement in corruption. Reports had emerged that Rs150 million were allegedly transferred from a university account to a private account and then ‘invested’ in some private businesses. Five university employees involved in opening the bank account were suspended following an inquiry but they started protests for having been illegally suspended. The scam is still being probed by various committees.