LAHORE:

The senior leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is working to resolve the contentious issue surrounding the appointment of vice chancellors for 25 Punjab government universities.

Sources indicate that Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif are scheduled to meet soon to address the governor’s concerns and find a resolution.

The appointment of vice chancellors for Government College University Lahore (GCUL) and Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) has emerged as the most controversial topic, raising alarms within the Governor’s Secretariat as well as among faculty members.

Both parties’ top leaders have become actively involved following the governor’s objections to the summary of appointments submitted by the Chief Minister. An official from the Governor’s Secretariat confirmed that the upcoming meeting will also include other leaders from both parties.

The governor has withheld his signature on the CM’s summary, believing that several recommended candidates did not meet merit standards or faced various allegations.

Specifically, concerns have arisen over the appointment for LCWU, as the summary sent to the Governor’s Secretariat included a name from Punjab University who has previously faced bribery allegations while serving as an ad hoc vice chancellor. This inclusion has further irritated the governor.

Moreover, the governor has expressed frustration over being presented only the names of top candidates, arguing that he is entitled to select a vice chancellor from among three top candidates.

The issues will be discussed in the upcoming meeting, with hopes that a decision regarding the appointments will be reached.

Previously, the governor voiced his reservations about the CM’s summary, emphasizing his commitment to merit-based decisions.

Meanwhile, delays in the appointments have raised concerns among faculty and students. Dr. Amjad Magsi, President of the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA), noted that public sector universities have suffered from over two years of administrative instability and ad-hoc leadership, which has severely impacted the academic environment and educational opportunities.

Dr. Magsi commended the Punjab government for initiating the VC appointment process and expressed optimism that it would proceed without unnecessary delays. He stressed that only candidates with proven leadership, integrity, and performance should be selected.

He urged that the governor, as chancellor of the universities, recognize the seriousness of the situation, noting that both the Constitution and the University Act define the roles of the CM and governor in these appointments.

Dr. Magsi emphasized the need for swift action to appoint qualified vice chancellors, as political disagreements have hampered the selection process. The Search Committee has already finalized its recommendations, and further delays only exacerbate confusion and instability within the universities.

He concluded by highlighting that the Supreme Court issued a directive in August for the appointment of vacant vice chancellor positions nationwide.