Aitchison College, Lahore’s premier semi-private school has been marred by controversy of late following the unceremonious departure of its principal Mr. Michael A. Thomson in March following a prolonged confrontation with then PML-N-appointed Governor Punjab Baligh Ur Rehman.
The matter related to the waiver of tuition fee of two students, sons of Ahad Cheema, a former senior Punjab bureaucrat and current Federal Minister for Economic Affairs.
In the months that followed, a search committee mandated by the Board of Governors (BoG) of the college went through a rigorous selection process to find a replacement.
The committee selected Dr. SM Turab Hussain, a distinguished educationist, to take on the role. This selection received approval from the BoG during a recent meeting.
Dr. Hussain resigned from his position at the Lahore University of Management Sciences in preparation for his new role at Aitchison College.
However, the minutes of the meeting approving Dr. Hussain’s appointment have not yet been signed by the Governor of Punjab, who serves as the president of the board. This has led to a delay in the issuance of the official notification for his appointment.
Dr. Hussain is scheduled to assume office on August 1, but without the notification, this seems increasingly unlikely.
As per sources privy to the delay in Dr. Hussain’s confirmation, the delay from the Punjab Governor’s office may seem administrative, but is purely political.
College board intervenes
Dr. Hussain emerged as the obvious choice after the head-hunting and selection process concluded. However, some members of the BoG were not happy with his appointment.
Speaking to Pakistan Today on condition of anonymity, a prominent educationist from Lahore said that Dr. Hussain had plans to bring meaningful effective administrative and educational reforms to the school. These would have extended to the annual admission process as well.
“Two particular BoG members, Aitchisonians, one a son of a senior Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader and another whose father has deep ties with PPP’s leadership staunchly opposed Dr. Hussain’s appointment”, he added.
The Governor’s mistake
Dr. SM Turab Hussain’s appointment was confirmed by the BoG but during this time a new federal government was put in place and PPP’s Sardar Saleem Haider Khan replaced Pakistan Muslim League N’s (PML-N) Baligh Ur Rehman.
According to a source, the announcement of Dr. Hussain’s appointment by the board was mistakenly endorsed by the office of the Governor of Punjab.
Governor of Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan took his oath on May 10th 2024. Announcement for Dr. Hussain’s selection as Principal Aitchison College was on May 20th, 2024.
Continuing with the interim
Following the acceptance of Mr. Michael A. Thomson, Ms Amina Kamran, who had been serving as Headmistress Senior School at Aitchison College since 2016, was made interim Principal of Aitchison College.
As per sources Ms Kamran too was in the running for Principal, but after the scrutiny and evaluation process was unable to be placed even in the top 15.
“There is a concerted effort by a faction of the BoG to get her appointed as the Principal as she would be more forthcoming in the operational matters of the college”, said a source on condition of anonymity.
What lies ahead?
The future of the administrative leadership of Aitchison College remains uncertain as there as serious reservations over Dr. Hussain’s appointment, both from within the college’s decision-making apparatus and the political influencers that run affairs in the background.
“It is plain to see. A compromised rubber stamp that will help politically by allowing favors in the running of college affairs will always be preferable to a competent professional trying to bring change”, commented a source on condition of anonymity.
Dr. Hussain’s assignment at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) concludes on 31st July. He is supposed to join as Principal Aitchison College on 1st August.
