By: Salman Yousafzai
PESHAWAR: The Provincial Inspection Team has initiated an inquiry on the directions of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, into alleged serious allegations of corruption, and nepotism against the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University of Swat, while a detailed written response has been sought from the Vice Chancellor of the varsity.
According to sources, a lawyer named Syed Mujeeb-ur-Rehman from Swat submitted a detailed application to the Chief Minister, subsequently, the Chief Minister sent it to the Provincial Inspection Team (PIT) to investigate the serious allegations made by the applicant.
The written application claimed, among other allegations, also includes allegations related to the appointment of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Hassan Sher as Vice-Chancellor and alleged misrepresentation in the data collected for his professorship.
Education Department sources say that the PIT is investigating a total of 16 allegations. These include the allegation that the University of Swat had been pushed from a surplus of Rs54 million to a deficit of Rs230 million in a few months due to alleged financial irregularities.
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According to the petitioner, development funds were misused for payment of salaries and other expenses, while an allegedly corrupt and under investigation project director was given the responsibility of the women’s campus built at a cost of Rs1,300 million.
According to sources, the list of allegations also includes alleged violation of merit in the selection board, illegal promotions of favourite administrative officers without the approval of the statutes from the university’s main body, the Senate, targeting and blocking the promotions of members who spoke in favour of the university and against the Vice Chancellor and his team on important platforms like the Syndicate, illegal appointment and promotion to the post of the Deputy Director Planning & Development, alleged audio leaks of the Vice Chancellor regarding recruitments, and alleged harassment of some administrative officers by the faculty, among other administrative and financial issues.
Sources say that the administrators of the University of Swat have been informed in writing and the Vice Chancellor has been asked to submit his written response to the inquiry along with evidence in the next few days.
