ISLAMABAD - Lack of uniformity in the policies of Higher Education Commission (HEC) with regard to selection of vice-chancellors of the universities has caused ambiguities and concerns among the professors and lecturers who have objected to the entire criteria set for the selection of the vice-chancellors. Advertisements that have appeared in the press for the vacancies show that different criteria have been set for different universities for the candidates who want to apply for the position of vice-chancellor. The time period, for instance, to apply varies for different universities from days to weeks. For example, for the office of vice-chancellor of Hazara University the advertisement that appeared on October 20 says the candidates can apply within eleven days where as for the same position of QAU nearly one-and-a-half months time period has been fixed to invite applications. In some cases, the restrictions of age-limit have been abolished completely while in some advertisements it is clearly mentioned that the candidate should not be more than 65 years of age on the date of submission of application. Professors of the universities believe that different criteria have been set to benefit few or to select favourites. They regretted that at least basic criteria for the appointment of vice-chancellors of the universities should be uniform across the country. One of the members of the search committee when contacted by TheNation opined that requirements of each university are different so the criteria for the vice-chancellor of every university would be different. QAU is a research-oriented varsity and international applications have been invited for the position of vice-chancellor, which would take time thats why time duration is long compared to other universities he added. It is pertinent to mention here that the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) has been criticising the process of appointment of vice-chancellors of the public sector universities terming it non-transparent and based on considerations other than merit. To appoint in-service professors as vice-chancellors of the universities has been their long-standing demand. Meanwhile, due to security risk and unstable law and order situation, tests to be conducted by National Testing Service Pakistan has been postponed till further announcement. University of Peshawar admission test, State Bank of Pakistan Sbots-16 Batch, AIOU M.Phil/PhD test and Minhaj University Lahore test that were to be held on October 25 have been postponed.