Violation of Universities Act: Several teachers serving against admin positions in UoP

PESHAWARL: Several faculty members in the University of Peshawar (UoP) are holding attractive offices in the administration in violation of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities Act that bars posting of teachers against the administrative positions.

The universities act in its Section-17-A clearly mentions: “All administrative positions in universities shall be filled by the administrative officers of the university on regular basis and in no case teachers and officials other than the administrative officers shall be posted on these positions. In case suitable candidate is not available from amongst the administrative officers, the university shall ensure immediate appointment on such posts in the prescribed manner.”

The act was amended in 2016 and the section concerned was inserted in it. But even after over two years, the UoP has been unable to fill out the administrative offices with appropriate officers.

Dr Rahman Ali, assistant professor (BPS-19) at the Quaid-e-Azam College of Commerce, is serving against the position of Director Distance Education (BS-20), sources told The News.

Dr Ashhad Halimi, another assistant professor (BPS-19) at the Department of Pharmacy, has been posted as Director Quality Enhancement (BS-20).

Dr Zia Ubaid, Assistant Professor (BPS-19), Institute of Management Studies, has been posted as Director ORIC (BS-20).

Dr Sardar, a professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, is serving as director, Advance Studies.

Ali Imran Bangash, assistant professor of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, is working as media officer of the university.

Sirbiland Khan, a research investigator and non-administrative officer, has been posted as assistant registrar Academics and Affiliation.

Sheraz, an assistant warden (BPS-16), has been posted at the BPS-17 position of assistant provost, the sources said.

They said that these faculty members were getting additional perks and privileges for the administration position against which they have been illegally posted.

A number of administrative officers were there, but they were posted against non-budgeted positions.

The university administration is deliberately delaying advertising these positions only to extend favour to some dear ones. It recently advertised 75 teaching positions and not a single position of the administrative officers could be advertised. The sources said most of the recently advertised teaching positions were over and above the budget.

Reached for comments, UoP Registrar, Dr Zahid Gul, said the university lacked eligible administrative officers, which is why the faculty members had been posted against some positions to run the system. “If there is any officer eligible for the said positions, he should come up and he would be appointed against them,” he said.

The registrar acknowledged that posting of teaching staff members against administrative positions was a violation of the act, but said they were doing so for the time being and the positions would be advertised soon.