ISLAMABAD: Baltistan University has discreetly advertised the Vice Chancellor’s post for the third time, a move seemingly aimed at prolonging the appointment of a new head for the institution.
This development follows previous recruitment attempts that have remained unresolved due to alleged influence and deliberate actions by Dr Muhammad Naeem Khan, who has continued to hold the position for approximately three years beyond his term as VC of Baltistan University.
The university recently issued another advertisement in newspapers soliciting applications from both fresh and previous candidates. Insiders suggest that this re-advertisement is yet another deliberate attempt to stall the appointment process, potentially benefiting the current VC.
Interestingly, some members of the university’s Senate, the institution’s upper body, claim to be unaware of this development. According to them, the decision to re-advertise the post was not made during the previous session of the Senate. Instead, it was decided to assign the responsibilities of the VC to a senior faculty member until the ongoing recruitment process is concluded.
When contacted, Convener of the Search Committee, Junaid Zaidi, claimed that the re-advertisement of the post must be a decision of the university’s Senate. He stated that the process of recruiting a new VC should not take more than six weeks. His committee, which had earlier tried to recruit a new VC, failed to do so due to Dr Naeem’s tactics of approaching the court and allegedly influencing the university’s Senate. In the past, another search committee headed by senior journalist Qasim Naseem also could not complete the process due to similar tactics of the existing VC.
Background
Earlier, the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan raised serious concerns about the reluctance of the Vice Chancellor of Baltistan University, Skardu, to vacate his position even after the completion of his term nearly three years ago. The commission highlighted instances of influence peddling by the VC and the Registrar to extend their tenures, leading to a governance deadlock within the university.
In a recent development, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) issued a detailed statement regarding the replacement of Prof. Dr. Muhammad Naeem Khan, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Baltistan. The commission’s letter explicitly outlined concerns over the VC’s maneuvers to obstruct the appointment of a new and regular VC, despite the expiration of his three-year extension following his initial term.
Insiders revealed that the Senate of the university requested Dr. Naeem to step down in December 2023 to facilitate the appointment of a new VC. However, he continues to hold the position unlawfully. Allegedly, the Registrar of the university is also supporting this delay tactic by seeking legal opinions for the new VC appointment from both the Election Commission of Pakistan and now from HEC, despite both commissions deeming such actions unnecessary.
HEC scrutinized a dissenting note by a member of the UOBS Senate, Raja Shahbaz Khan, referencing a Supreme Appellate Court GB order dated November 30, 2023, which suspended an earlier directive from the GB Chief Court regarding the appointment of a regular VC. However, HEC criticized the dissenting note for allegedly obscuring the interim arrangement during the unavailability of a regular VC.
Furthermore, HEC questioned the reliability of legal advice from the Registrar’s office at the University of Baltistan, highlighting a potential conflict of interest as the Acting VC of the university reportedly challenged the appointment of a Regular VC. HEC emphasized the absence of an established right for an individual to hold an acting charge or interim arrangement.
The memorandum concluded by urging the University of Baltistan’s management to address the matter in line with Senate decisions, emphasizing impartiality and adherence to legal guidelines.
According to sources, during a Senate meeting attended by Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar, it was decided to terminate any extension given to Dr. Naeem and immediately commence the appointment of a new VC. The next Senate meeting was scheduled for December 13, 2023, to finalize appointing an acting VC from the senior faculty while initiating the new VC appointment process. However, sources indicate that Dr. Naeem and the university’s Registrar are employing tactics to deliberately delay the process by not convening the next Senate meeting.
Earlier, in November 2023, this scribe reported that the University of Baltistan found itself entangled in controversy over the extended tenure of Vice Chancellor Dr. Naeem Khan. The situation escalated when Senate members opposing the extension faced suspension, raising integrity concerns. An uproar continued during a Senate meeting last year when two vocal members were suspended by Chairperson of Senate Batool Qureshi for challenging Dr Naeem Khan’s extended term. Despite objections, discussions against the VC were halted abruptly. The controversy arose from Dr. Naeem’s tenure extension beyond his original term completion in May 2021. Despite opposition and legal battles, he continued to occupy the position, influencing the recruitment process.
Senate members reiterated concerns over the illegal tenure extension and Dr. Naeem’s interventions in the appointment of a new VC. Efforts to reach Chairperson Batool Qureshi for comment proved futile amidst allegations of illegal actions and pressure tactics within the university.
Amidst this turmoil, HEC clarified that there’s no formal procedure for removing a Senate member without specific clauses in the university’s statutes. However, recent actions suggest a crackdown on dissenting voices within the institution. The power struggle between the VC and the Registrar threatens the university’s stability.
