Despite the fact that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has interviewed three candidates for the post of vice chancellor of the University of Karachi, the CM House has not announced their names. A month has passed but the summary is yet to be sent for issuing a notification.
Due to this situation, the rumour mill has been quite active, while attempts are being made for exploitation. Letters against the candidates are being sent to the intelligence agencies and the Pakistan Peoples Party leadership. Grievances have been rekindled, allegations are being made and revenge is being sought.
The chairman of the Sindh Higher Education Commission (HEC) has also been facing criticism as the convener of the search committee formed for the selection of the VC. In the light of the directions of the Supreme Court and the Sindh High Court, the convener had interviewed only those candidates who had at least 25 research papers published in HEC-approved journals, and which had been verified by the HEC itself.
Complaints have been sent even to the intelligence agencies over some journalists allegedly running and broadcasting news in favour of some candidates and against others. It has been learnt that a special assistant to the CM has also been very active in the matter of KU and does not want to see a particular candidate made the VC at any cost.
The fact that all the three candidates interviewed by the CM for the post have not been cleared by any intelligence agency has also raised many questions. It is likely that the CM will step in to persuade his special assistant not to interfere in the process of appointment on the basis of his personal preferences or dislikes.
In the meantime, acting VC Nasira Khatoon, who had been given the charge for three months after the court’s decision, has been making controversial decisions instead of those in line with the role of an acting VC, which will later become a problem for the permanent VC.
When the CM’s media consultant Rashid Channa was contacted about the summary on the appointment of a permanent VC, he said that it does not matter if an assistant is angry. “Maybe the summary is being discussed with the chief secretary.”