News Analysis |
Dr. Mujahid Kamran, former vice-chancellor (VC) of the Punjab University, has been arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday. Former VC reportedly appeared before the NAB Lahore office to record his statement on Thursday, where he was taken into custody by the bureau officials. Following his arrest, the ex-VC provided the bureau with information that led to the arrest of five former registrars as well, namely Dr. Auranzeb, Alamgir, Dr. Liaqat Ali, Dr. Ras Saud, and Amin Athar.
The above-mentioned officials have said to play a major role in more than 550 illegal appointments at the Punjab University between the years 2013 to 2016. According to sources, all the illegal appointments were made in grade 17 and above.
The Sargodha University officials were arrested after Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar had directed the bureau to complete its inquiry into the affairs of the university’s sub-campuses within one week.
Moreover, Mr. Kamran is also accused of being responsible for the illegal appointment of his wife Shazia Qureshi as the principal of Punjab University Law College, for awarding scholarships to students through favoritism, as well as awarding contracts to his “preferred” contractors in violation of the laws.
“The appointees were initially awarded a one-year contract and their services were regularized later on,” sources in NAB told media. They added that more arrests were likely in the case as it was a huge illegal recruitments scam.
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It has also been confirmed that all the accused will be presented before accountability court on Friday (today), where the bureau will seek their physical remand. Syed Mujahid Kamran was the longest serving vice-chancellor of the Punjab University (Jan 2008-Dec 2016), where he taught physics since 1972.
Former VC reportedly appeared before the NAB Lahore office to record his statement on Thursday, where he was taken into custody by the bureau officials.
It is pertinent to mention here that NAB on October 8 arrested the top former management of the Sargodha University, including its former vice-chancellor Dr. Muhammad Akram Chaudhary, registrar, chief executive officer (CEO) and director administration of both Lahore and Mandi Bahauddin sub-campuses over their alleged involvement in the establishment of illegal private campuses.
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The Sargodha University officials were arrested after Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar had directed the bureau to complete its inquiry into the affairs of the university’s sub-campuses within one week.
Higher education in Pakistan specifically in the Punjab has taken a beating after the “return of democracy” in 2008. According to QS ranking, only 3 universities are listed in top 800 universities of the world as compared to only 2 years back when 6 of Pakistan’s universities ranked in the top 800 universities of the world.
The woes of higher education t the university level have been made worse by a faulty power-sharing mechanism between various quality-controlling bodies at the federal and provincial level. According to experts, after the resignation of Dr Atta ur Rehman the HEC has been turned into a mere attestation facility.
However, all these problems are aggravated by the taint of corruption. Pakistani universities have become hotbeds of nepotism where entire families are being adjusted into various posts by throwing merit out of the window.
Then there is the case of political interference in universities. In January 2018, Punjab University Vice Chancellor Zaffar Mueen Nasar resigned from his post, apparently over the issue of the university land which the Punjab government wanted to give to a religious party.
Corruption is thriving in the universities of Pakistan. And as a result, the destiny of it’s future generations is at stake.