LAHORE: The appointment of vice chancellors for 25 public sector universities in Punjab has sparked a conflict between the governor and the provincial government.
Punjab Governor Sardar Salim Haider criticized the list of candidates submitted by the search committee, claiming it lacked merit. He expressed concerns over the recommendations originating from the Chief Minister’s Office, emphasizing that merit-based decisions were essential and that legal consultations were causing delays in the appointments.
According to regulations, the search committee is responsible for forwarding the names of three qualified professors for each position, selected based on seniority, qualifications, reputation, and the absence of ongoing corruption inquiries. The chief minister approves these names before they are sent to the governor for final approval. However, upon receiving the VC list, Governor Haider alleged that favoritism was involved in the selection process.
As a result, the governor opted to interview 18 of the 25 recommended candidates, leading to controversy. He claimed that some professors included in the final list were under investigation for corruption, providing evidence to support his assertion.
In contrast, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari stated that the governor’s role is to endorse the appointments made by the search committee and cabinet, highlighting the significance of cabinet decisions. She reiterated that the governor’s role should be limited to approval, not rejection, of these decisions, emphasizing that the selection committee had already recommended experienced candidates for the positions.
