ASA seeks govt to notice QAU affairs

ISLAMABAD: The government is not taking notice of the stalemate of Quaid-I-Azam University (QAU) and plight and sufferings of its faculty members, said Dr Aqeel Bukhari, president of the Academic Staff Association (ASA).

Talking to a press conference here on Wednesday, he said that the vice chancellor (VC) has failed to deliver. He appealed to Prime Minister Abbasi, President Mamnoon Hussain, and Baleeghur Rehman to save QAU that has been having a wave of protests since appointment of the controversial VC.

Dr Bokhari remarked that VC Dr Javed Ashraf has a tainted past as he was fired from IBA back in 2002 over mishandling of affairs. He said Dr Ashraf holds vague and obscure academic credentials. “His 3.5 years tenure at QAU is a tale of sorry state of affairs,” he said.

Dr Bukhari said the VC failed to get the PC-1 of the university approved. “Rather, he had been overly indulged into micromanagement and pursuing a policy of pick and choose to benefit his loved ones,” he said.

He said that the VC had been threatening faculty members, halting their promotions and canceling their NOCs for international conferences. “Dr Ashraf has illegally promoted his blue-eyed professors while the deserving are still in limbo. He has proven a disaster for the university, and we will not tolerate him any further. The faculty is unable to work in this hostile environment,” he made it clear.

“We are growingly insecure on campus because of VC’s poor policies,” said Dr Bokhari, adding a high-level inquiry, which was ordered by the President of Pakistan and was conducted by HEC, has also recommended immediate removal of Dr Ashraf from his post.

Separately talking to The News, Prof Dr Sajid Awan said that the VC has spoiled the environment of learning bulldozing the system for his personal gains. He echoed the demand for removal of what he called “rotten head” of the university.