PU Syndicate gives another chance to Principal PUCIT

Lahore: The Punjab University Syndicate on Saturday accorded another opportunity of hearing to PU College of Information Technology (PUCIT) Principal Dr Mansoor Sarwar as he could not turn up while discussing the case referred by Lahore High Court regarding his alleged illegal appointment as professor and Principal PUCIT.

The meeting was chaired by PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran at committee room of his office. Dr Mansoor Sarwar’s brother submitted an application to the Chairman Syndicate along with medical certificate issued by Mayo Hospital Deputy Medical Superintendent that Dr Sarwar is suffering from Gestroentritis and is admitted in A&E Mayo Hospital Lahore.

Giving a detailed briefing on the case, Additional Registrar 1 Dr Kamran Abid told the Syndicate members that the seat of professor of computer science was advertised in 2007 in which the mentioned terms and conditions were against the University Calendar. He said that Dr Sarwar did not have the requisite number of publications published in journals and his application was also incomplete wherein experience certificates were never attached. He said that hence, the applicant’s stance that he was professor at LUMS and UMT could not be verified/authenticated.

He said that as per official record, a hand written name of expert is available written by Dr Mansoor Sarwar in his own handwriting whom the university approached to evaluate the research work of Dr Sarwar. He said that surprisingly, the reports of three experts were illegally opened by the-then Additional Registrar 1 Dr Aurangzeb Alamgir prior to the meeting of Selection Board making the reports doubtful and his signatures regarding illegal opening of sealed envelopes were also available on the record. He said that the quorum of the selection board was incomplete and hence proceeding with the selection process was illegal.

He said that two experts had also mentioned that they had association with the Dr Sarwar. Dr Kamran Abid revealed that the report of one expert was a computer generated report including the scanned signatures of the expert and this report was also opened by Dr Alamgir prior to the selection board. Regarding appointment of Dr Sarwar as Principal PUCIT, Dr Kamran Abid briefed the meeting that sheer violations of the University Calendar were made in the advertisement and Dr Sarwar was given the salary of Tenure Track System and at the same time he was given the facilities, allowances and benefits of BPS as well. He said that Dr Sarwar was residing in the university free of cost against the rules.

He said that again the quorum of the selection board was incomplete and the Special Departmental Accounts Committee made audit para on his irregular appointment as principal in 2012. He said that Dr Sarwar’s appointment as professor was time-barred and illegal.

Moreover, he said, Dr Sarwar had submitted two joining reports i.e. Professor of Computer Science and Principal PUCIT which was illegal as no any government employee could work independently on two separate budgeted posts however a person working on a post could be given ‘additional charge’ of any other post. Appearing before the Syndicate, Dr Nasir Ahmed, the petitioner against Dr Sarwar, requested the Syndicate to ensure participation of Dr Sarwar in the next meeting.

The Syndicate approved recommendations of Selection Board and quashed 8 fake degrees. The Syndicate also approved regulations regarding Professor Emeritus and annual report of the university. The Syndicate showed satisfaction over the working of committee for contract appointment of faculty members.