The Punjab governor has once again turned down the advice of the Punjab chief minister regarding appointment of vice-chancellor of Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), Multan, it has been learnt.
On July 7, Governor/Chancellor Sardar Latif Khan Khosa had ordered the appointment of Prof Dr Muhammad Zafarullah as the VC of the BZU, Multan. However, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had rejected the same and recommended the name of Prof Dr Syed Khawaja Alqama for the post on July 11.
The CM had recommended the name on June 25, however, the same was rejected by the governor/chancellor, observing, “Prof Dr Syed Khawaja Alqama is likely to face problems in reverting back to the academia after pursuing his recent interest in developing a diplomatic career as he had been the Pakistan ambassador to Yemen since 2009.”
As per the latest development, this time, the governor also expressed concern over the delay in appointment of the VC at the BZU, Multan, saying the institution was doomed to collapse. “With the chancellor already having appointed Dr Muhammad Zafarullah as the BZU VC, Multan, the issuance of a notification was a ministerial job which should have followed without any delay,” he observed, warning, “The entire responsibility whereof shall be at the end of the delinquent officials, recoiling on the governance of the provincial government.” The governor/chancellor’s response further reads: “Needless to say, the university affairs are suffering for non-performance of such a formality, which requires serious consideration.”
It is pertinent to mention that Prof Dr Muhammad Zafarullah has already served as the VC of the BZU, Multan. He was appointed as the VC on January 26, 2007 and his tenure expired on January 25, this year.
Afterwards, a total of 159 candidates had applied for the post, however, after short-listing and interview process, the VC Search Committee had recommended names of three candidates for consequent appointment of any of them as the VC.
The candidates (as per merit of Search Committee) include Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, Dr Syed Khawaja Alqama and Prof Dr Muhammad Zafarullah. The governor/chancellor, while rejecting the present summary of the Punjab government, observed: ìThe chief minister did not interview Dr Muhammad Zafarullah, who too had been recommended by the high-powered Search Committee amongst the three nominees for the slot of Vice- Chancellor.
Therefore, the summary of the chief minister advising the appointment of Dr Syed Khawaja Alqama as vice-chancellor is not based on comparable assessment of all those recommended. “The very process adopted by the CM to ouster Dr Muhammad Zafarullah is repugnant to the principles of natural justice, being tantamount to condemning him unheard,” reads Khosa’s reaction to the summary.
Academic circles believe that the appointment of the VC is likely to be delayed further owing to prevailing deadlock between the governor and the chief minister. They also say the widening gulf between the PML-N and PPP would further delay the appointment.

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SALMAN MUSHTAQ
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Email: mani@bzupages.com
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