Interviews for LCWU VC postponed

LAHORE: The interviews of shortlisted candidates for the post of Vice-Chancellor of the Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) could not be held on Friday as convener of the Search Committee did not show up, The News has learnt.

Sources privy to the developments said a total of 30 candidates were shortlisted and it was decided to interview the candidates, 15 each, on March 29 and April 1. They said all the 15 candidates reached the venue for the interviews but the process could not be held as Dr Khalid Hameed Sheikh, convener of the Search Committee, who was supposed to chair the proceedings, did not show up.

The sources said other members of the committee, including former principal of Kinnaird College Dr Mira Phailbus, former principal of NCA Prof Dr Nazish Attaullah, Secretary Higher Education Department (HED) Punjab Momin Agha who is also holding additional charge as Chairperson of Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) had made it to the venue to hold the interviews.

It is learnt Dr Khalid Hameed Sheikh had informed the HED high-ups the night before that since he was also member of the LCWU syndicate it was better if he could stay away from the interview process to avoid ‘conflict of interest’. The sources said the department officials, however, convinced him that there was no conflict of interest as he was just a member of the university’s syndicate and had good knowledge of the university affairs which could be seen as a positive aspect. They added the convener agreed and assured to join the Search Committee for interviews on Friday but did not show up leaving rest of the committee members confused for quite some time. The sources said after the Search Committee waited for its convener for few hours, the candidates, some of whom had come from outside Lahore, were informed about the postponement of interviews.

It is pertinent to mention here that with the interviews for the post of VC LCWU, the HED Punjab has started process of appointment of VCs at 12 public sector universities of the province. These include four women universities i.e., LCWU, Women University, Multan, Government College for Women University, Sialkot and Government College Women University, Faisalabad. The general universities include Islamia University Bahawalpur (IUB), Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) Multan, University of Gujrat, University of Narowal and Government College University, Faisalabad. The specialised universities include University of Engineering & Technology (UET) Lahore, University of Home Economics Lahore and UET Taxila. Dr Khalid Hameed Sheikh is convener of Search Committees for all the above mentioned women universities as well as the University of Home Economics while former VC of the Government College University (GCU) Lahore Dr Khalid Aftab is the convener of Search Committees for rest of the universities, including UET Lahore and UET Taxila.

It is also pertinent to mention that composition of these Search Committees was recently challenged in the Lahore High Court. A senior HED official said constitution of Search Committee was a lengthy process and if the department went for its reconstitution, the process of appointment at the universities could face an inordinate delay.

“Therefore, we have decided to postpone the interviews for LCWU only while interviews for other universities will be held as per schedule,” the official said and added those scheduled to appear for interviews on April 1 had also been informed about the postponement of interviews.