Members of PU Senate demand Dr Mujahid Kamran back as VC

Lahore : Punjab University’s elected members of Senate and Academic Staff Association have demand of Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif appoint Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran as Vice Chancellor, to restore peace and academic culture on campus since he has vast administrative experience and tops the list of three candidates on merit.

Addressing a press conference at Lahore Press Club, PU Academic Staff Association’s Treasurer Dr Azhar Naeem, executive members Naeemullah Khan, Dr Ayub Afridi, members of PU Senate including Dr Kamran Abid, Dr Abdul Qayyum and others said that after the appointment of Dr Zafar Mueen Nasar, the university had collapsed totally because of administrative failure.

They said that the university had stopped progressing academically because of wrong policies and practices of PU VC Dr Zafar Mueen Nasar.

They said that the Dr Nasar had withdrawn his several unwise and illegal office orders in five months which was unprecedented in 135 years history of the university after receiving strong criticism, reaction and protests.

They said that Dr Nasar was not capable of running Punjab University and the administration of Pakistan’s oldest seat of learning must be handed over to a person having vast administrative experience. They said that the corrupt mafia in the ranks of teachers was against the appointment of Dr Mujahid Kamran, who was number 1 on merit.

They said that Punjab Chief Minister must appoint only a competent person as vice chancellor of the university who was on the top of the three candidates on merit. They said that in the tenure of Dr Mujahid Kamran, the research grant was increased from Rs 4 million to Rs 120 million and university’s national and international ranking had improved manifold.

They said that the teachers, employees and students had witnessed peaceful atmosphere under the leadership of Dr Mujahid Kamran.

They said that serious allegations of corruption, forgery, illegal promotions, illegal financial favors worth millions of rupees had already been proved against Dr Mansoor Sarwar, ASA President Javed Sami, Member Syndicate Shumaila Gul, ASA Vice President Science Dr Shahid Ghazi, Sardar Asghar Iqbal and others. They said that a murder case was also under trial in court against ASA President Javed Sami.

On the contrary, they said, none of the allegations leveled by this tainted group of teachers against Dr Mujahid Kamran had proved true at any forum including NAB and anti-corruption. He said that for the first time in the history of Pakistan’s greatest alma mater, teachers, students and employees had witnessed closure of varsity gates because of law and order situation.

They said that that because of sorry state of affairs, Chairman Hall Council and Resident Officer 1 had resigned from their posts because of VC’s lack of understanding of university affairs.

They said for the first time, police was deployed in the university for more than one month because of VC’s failure in handling the situation. They said that the VC was also supporting Islami Jamiat Talaba because of which its activities of vandalism had increased on campus and teachers and students felt fearful environment on campus.

They said that PU VC Prof Dr Zafar Mueen Nasar has withdrawn his own several office orders and notifications in his 5 months tenure, resulting his failure in PU’s administrative affairs. For example, they said, that VC Dr Nasar terminated contract of 43 national distinguished professors but had to withdraw his orders because of strong criticism nationwide.

They said that the VC also could not organize annual book fair, which was a clear proof of his weak administration. They said that Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif had always upheld policy of merit and PU teachers, employees and students were hopeful that he would appoint new vice chancellor of PU who had the ability to run Punjab University.