Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah removes eight retired professors from Pro-VC positions

KARACHI: Following the directions of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, the Sindh Universities and Boards Department’ removed eight retired professors from the positions of pro-vice chancellors.

On Dec 8, 2019 The News pointed out this irregularity of continuation of services of retired professors as Pro-VCs in different public sector universities of the province in a story titled “Eight retired professors serving as Pro-VCs in Sindh varsities”. The Sindh CM took notice of that story and issued directions to terminate the services of said eight retired professors from the positions of Pro-VCs.

Some eight retired professors were working as Pro-Vice Chancellors in six different universities of Sindh, contradicting the Sindh Universities and Institutes Laws and Supreme Court decision.

On January 13, (Monday) the Sindh Universities and Boards Department issued notifications, copies of which are available with The News, de-notified the positions of Pro-VCs of said all eight retired professors.

All the eight retired professors of Sindh University Dr Aslam Parvez Memon who was retired from his basic job on October 15, 2018 was continuing as Pro-VC of Sindh University’s Naushero-Feroze campus, Professor Dr Khawar Jamali of Dow University of Health Science retired from his actual job on May 19, 2018 was continuing as Pro-VC of same institution, Dr Zaarnaz Wahid retired on April 7, 2018 and Dr Kartar Dewani retired on April 9, 2019 were enjoying the position of Pro-VC in same university of Dow University of Health Science; Professor Dr Shamsdin Shiekh retired on January 9, 2017 but was working as Pro-VC of People’s University of Medical and Health Science for Women, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dr Lubna Ansari who was appointed on contract basis whose contract expired on Nov 28, 2017 was enjoying the position of Po-VC of Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi; Professor Dr Roshan din Rashidi retired from his original job on August 2, 2017 was continuing as Pro-VC of Dawood Engineering University Karachi; Professor Dr Muneer Ahmed Junejo retired on November 13, 2015 was working as Pro-VC of same university Liaquat University of Medical and Health Science.

The said continuation of their jobs as Pro-VC after their retirement of original service was against the rules of appointment described in ‘The Sindh Universities Laws (amendment) Act 2013, section 13 (appointment of Pro-Vice Chancellor) “the Pro-VC shall be eminent academic and a distinguished medical professional appointed by the Chief Minister from amongst university professors for the main campus or of the additional campus” and on the other hand Supreme Court of Pakistan in its order in original petition of 89/2011, 175/2011 and Civil Review petition No 193/2013 also declared that no retired officer of any department could be rehired in same or other department and no extension would be given to retired officers; and in pursuance of said order of apex court some 2,000 officials of different government departments serving after their retirement and some 69 officials from professors to low grade officials were sent back to home by cancelling their re-hiring contracts.

Despite of clear rules and SC decision, the said professors are still continuing their additional jobs despite being retired from their basic jobs. In the same order, Sindh CM also curtailed the tenure of two more educationists Dr Imdad Ismali of University of Sindh, Muhammd Mozam Baloch of Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, who were earlier notified as Pro-VCs after their retirement from their original service.