KU teachers’ alliance voices concerns over pharmacy dean’s appointment

Karachi

The Teachers’ Alliance for Good Governance (TAGG) of the University of Karachi has expressed concerns over the appointment of Dr Iqbal Azhar as dean of the pharmacy.

The alliance claimed on Monday that the vice chancellor of the university had not followed the due procedure while making the appointment.

“As per criteria, the vice chancellor was supposed to forward his recommendation along with a summery to the provincial governor regarding the vacant seat, before the completion of previous dean’s tenure, since the governor has the authority to take the final decision. In case of any delay in making appointments, the dean could be placed for interim period by the vice chancellor,” a TAAG official said.

According to him, the seat remained unoccupied for two days and no senior person was asked to look after the matters of the pharmacy department.

“Ignoring a potential candidate for the post, Dr Rafiq Alam of grade BPS-22, who became the professor in 2005, Dr Iqbal Azhar was given preference over him despite being junior as he was became professor in 2011,” he added.

He also said that Professor Dr Shakeel Farooqui during his meeting with the vice chancellor had also expressed displeasure in this regard on behalf of the Karachi University's Teachers' Society (KUTS).

“We demand clarification of this misconduct and believe that the motive behind the appointment is to divide the teaching community in groups.”