No progress in probe against PU VC annoys court

LAHORE
The Lahore High Court has expressed displeasure over no progress of investigations into allegations of harassment against the Punjab University vice chancellor.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan expressed these views while hearing a petition for suspension of VC Dr Mujahid Kamran during an inquiry against him. The judge said it was astonishing that no action had been taken on the application despite the passage of about three years since the allegations.
The judge was hearing an application of PU professor Zaid Ahmed, who stated that a committee was holding an inquiry against the VC on allegations of harassment by Khujista Rehan, lecturer at Punjab University Law College, without suspending him. He said the VC being functional on his post was affecting the inquiry as no progress had been made in last three years. He pointed out that in all such cases previously inquiries were held after suspending teachers but the same had not been followed in the case.
Acting governor: The Punjab law ministry on Monday told the Lahore High Court the appointment of Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Iqbal Ahmad as acting governor was not violation of the Constitution.
A provincial law officer submitted a written reply before the court of Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah during hearing of a petition seeking disqualification of the assembly’s speaker for being appointed as acting governor. In its reply, the law ministry said the speaker could work as acting governor of the province. It asked the court to dismiss the petition for being non-maintainable.
Justice Shah adjourned further hearing until April 7 and directed the petitioners’ counsel to come up with final arguments. The counsel argued that the speaker had been appointed as acting governor and a notification was also issued. The lawyer pointed out that issuance of a notification was not required for acting governor but Rana Iqbal Ahmad had been formally notified and become a government servant. Therefore, he said, the speaker could not hold dual office. The petitioner pleaded that the speaker should be disqualified for being member of the assembly.
Exonerated: Punjab Woman Ombudsman Mira Phalbous Monday exonerated Punjab Food Authority DG Asad Islam Mani in a harassment case lodged by some female interns.
Interns Ume Farwa, Nimra Mansoor, Anum Shafi, Ayesha Tariq, Anum Irshad, Sidra Ashraf and Hifsa Mahmood had filed a complaint with the Punjab Woman Ombudsman that they were harassed by the DG Food Authority Asad Islam Mani in his office. However, the charges could not be proved during the investigation.