Suspension order of UoP professor withdrawn on chancellor’s directive

PESHAWAR: The University of Peshawar has withdrawn the suspension order of Professor Dr Amir Nawaz Khan as the Dean of the Department of Life and Environmental Science because the decision was taken in violation of the university statutes and set procedure.
The university administration in an office order on January 12, 2015 stated: “In compliance with the directives of the worthy chancellor vide notification No. SO(III)8(I)/GS/10 dated09.01.2015, the suspension of Dr Amir Nawaz is hereby withdrawn with immediate effect.”
The chancellor had directed the university administration that Dr Amir Nawaz was a meritorious professor in BPS-22 and the senior most dean of the university and the university senate and chancellor was his appointing authorities. The university administration and the syndicate were not the competent authority to suspend a meritorious professor/dean. Therefore, the chancellor directed that his suspension should be withdrawn.
The university administration had suspended Dr Amir Nawaz as dean in November, 2014 on the charges of sexual harassment that according to the sources were politically motivated. The university administration had put the item of suspension and inquiry against Dr Amir Nawaz on the syndicate agenda scheduled on December 20, but the meeting was delayed till January 13 in view of the terrorit attack on the Army Public School and College, Peshawar. Later the item had to be withdrawn from the agenda after the clear directives of the chancellor, the sources said.
According to a senior official of the university who wished not to be named, the vice-chancellor was the competent authority to suspend any employee of the university in BPS-17 and above, but they had to comply with the governor’s directives. “And we are withdrawing the suspension only because of the governor/chancellor’s directives,” he said.
The issue emerged on January 21, 2014 when a group of students vandalized the Centre of Disaster Management and Preparedness of the university after the alleged harassment of a female student of the department by Dr Amir Nawaz, who at the time was the director of the Centre and dean of the faculty.
On January 23, the students visited the office of the dean and sought apology in writing. The complainant girl and her parents also reached a written agreement with the dean and the matter was settled there.
The university, however, formed a fact-finding committee to investigate the vandalism and damages to the university properties. The committee had clear terms of reference to investigate the vandalism and suggest action against the students involved in it, the sources said.
The committee instead of investigating the vandalism and fixing responsibility came up with findings in the harassment issue. These were presented in the university syndicate wherein a committee was formed to inquire the matter that had already been settled.
Meanwhile, the university administration suspended Dr Amir Nawaz and started inquiry against him. He submitted an appeal with the chancellor challenging the authority of the syndicate committee and the university administration.
The chancellor after going through the entire matter and having consultation with the higher education department’s high-ups formed a committee comprising governor’s inspection team and secretary higher education department to probe the matter and submit the report to him within 15 days.
The chancellor also directed immediate withdrawal of the suspension of Dr Amir Nawaz and stressed for necessary action in the matter and submission of the requisite report within the stipulated period.
According to sources, the chancellor’s directive has annoyed a strong lobby in the university, which was expecting stern action against Dr Amir Nawaz. This lobby has now become active to question the decision taken by the chancellor, the sources added.