Despite applicants’ approval, VCs’ appointments being delayed

The appointment of a permanent vice chancellor at Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto University of Law (Szabul) remains uncertain, with only one candidate’s name submitted to security agencies for clearance.

Meanwhile, despite receiving clearance for applicants at the University of Larkano (UOL) and the University of Sufism & Modern Sciences (USMS), Bhit Shah, the process of appointing VCs at these institutions has been postponed for months. In both cases, only one contender remains in the running.

Sources said the search committee did not submit a panel of three candidates for Szabul to the chief minister for approval, as is customary. During the interviews, the committee deemed only Dr Abdul Rahim Soomro suitable but did not forward his name for consideration.

However, when the issue of the permanent appointment of the VC reached the courts, the CM directed the universities & boards department to send Dr Soomro’s name for security clearance, allowing the appointment process to proceed.

The initial shortlist at the UOL includes Dr Zahid Hussain Abro, pro vice chancellor (PVC) of the Quaid-e-Awam University, Nawabshah; Dr. Madad Ali Shah, PVC of the IBA Sukkur; and Dr Rafiq Chandio, chairman of the University of Sindh’s economics department.

However, Dr Shah’s appointment as VC of the Nawabshah University and Dr Chandio did not receive intelligence clearance, leaving Dr Abro as the sole candidate for the position.

A similar situation has arisen at the USMS, where Dr Arshad Saleem, the top-ranked contender, also did not receive intelligence clearance. With Dr Shah’s appointment to the Nawabshah University, Imamuddin Khoso, PVC of the Sindh University, is now the only contender for the position at the Bhit Shah University.

Despite the approval of qualified applicants, the appointments of VCs at both the UOL and the USMS have been delayed. It appears that the CM House has been sitting on these summaries for several months, causing confusion at both universities.

Additionally, it has come to light that Dr Usman Keerio, the acting VC appointed on merit at the UOL, has made over 50 illegal recruitments within a few months, despite lacking the authority to do so.