BZU VC absent without leave since Aug 2

MULTAN: Serious irregularities have been found at Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) as Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Tahir Amin has been absent since August 2 without the approval of leave by the competent authority, BZU insiders revealed.

The BZU VC also holds additional charge of the office of the Multan Women University vice-chancellor. Therefore, both major institutions have been working without a head for the last 20 days.

The insiders claimed that BZU VC Prof Dr Tahir Amin had appointed a junior faculty member as acting vice-chancellor on verbal orders illegally and in violation of the university and HED rules. According to the HED rules, only the most senior professor should be appointed as acting vice-chancellor in the absence of vice-chancellor, they added.

Talking to The News, Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) Additional Secretary Dr Shoaib Anwar confirmed that there was no leave application from BZU VC Prof Dr Tahir Amin and the department had no record in this regard. When asked about the notification of the appointment of Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Bashiruddin Chaudhry, he said the HED had not issued any notification of the appointment of the acting VC as BZU VC Prof Dr Tahir Amin was on duty according to the department record.

Earlier, the governor/chancellor had approved medical leave of BZU VC Prof Dr Tahir Amin from April 17 to May 5, 2017. Consequently, the governor/chancellor allowed BZU Dean Faculty of Science Prof Dr Tariq Mehmood Ansari to look after the day-to-day affairs of the BZU and Multan Women University during the VC’s leave. Prof Tahir Amin went on leave from May 6, 2017 to June 2, 2017. The HED again notified the appointment of Prof Dr Tariq Ansari as acting VC.

When contacted, Bahauddin Zakariya University Registrar Prof Dr Mutahir Iqbal said that the vice-chancellor’s leave application was moved on Monday. He said that the application requested grant of leave from August 1 to 25. He said that the name of Dr Bashir as the acting VC had also been sent to the HED along with the leave application.

Meanwhile, the BZU staff union has resented the appointment of a junior faculty member as acting vice-chancellor without an HED notification. It demanded the HED look into the matter and take action against violators.