Staff Reporter (Pharmaceutical Review). In compliance with the Governor Punjab’s order number No.GS(Univ-I)11-5/2017-25 dated October 28, 2021; date of Hearing: 16.09.2021 the syndicate of the University of Sargodha in its 1/2022 meeting held on 27.09.2022 constituted a committee to investigate the illegal recruitment process of appointment of Dr. Sajid Bashir as Professor of Pharmacy (BS-21). Syed Nasir Abbas Bukhari has issued the notification No. SU/Admin(HR) 6464-74 with his beautiful signature on November 7, 2022. The Governor Punjab order to dispose of the revision petition of Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Tariq, Institute of Chemistry, University of Sargodha referred to this forum by the Hon’ble Lahoré High Court, Lahore, vide order dated 15″ June 2021, passed in connection with Writ Petition No. 37666/2021 titled “Prof Dr. Muhammad Myas Tariq versus Governor of Punjab/ Chancellor, University of Sargodha etc” wherein the petitioner has challenged the appointment of Dr. Sajid Bashir as Professor of Pharmacy (BS-21). The brief facts of the case are that the University of Sargodha advertised one post of Professor of Pharmacy (BS-21), with last date for submission of applications as 31 December 2009. Dr. Sajid Bashir applied for the said post. Having fulfilled the pre-requisites such as determination of eligibility and obtaining evaluation reports of local and foreign referees, the case was placed before the Selection Board in its meeting dated 20- 21 March 2012. The Selection Board recommended Dr. Sajid Bashir for his appointment as Professor of Pharmacy (BS-21). The Vice Chancellor, in exercise of powers under Section 13(3) of the University of Sargodha Ordinance 2002, appointed Dr. Sajid Bashir as Professor of Pharmacy (BS-21) vide Notification dated 22″4 March 2012. The Syndicate approved recommendations of the Selection Board in its meeting held on 9″ July 2012. The petitioner Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Tariq filed Writ Petition No. 37666/2021 in the Hon’ble Lahore High Court, Lahore, challenging appointment of Dr. Sajid Bashir as Professor of Pharmacy (BS-21), which was disposed of, vide order dated 15″ June 2021, in the Following term,
“The request being tenable, learned Law Officer, as well as learned counsel having watching brief on behalf of respondent University concurs with the same. Consequently, this petition is disposed of with the direction to the said respondent to ensure decision of the aforesaid application by himself or through any other authority competent in that regard, in accordance with law, relevant rules, policies applicable thereto after hearing the petitioner through a speaking order according to section 24-A of the General Clauses Act, 1897 expeditiously preferably within eight weeks from the receipt of certified copy of this order under intimation to this Court through Deputy Registrar (Judl.). Learned Law Officer shall ensure the compliance of this order.”
Pursuant to the above direction of the Hon’ble Court, the petitioner was afforded an opportunity of personal hearing on 16″ September 2021 in the presence of representatives of the University. During the course of hearing, the petitioner contended that foreign referee namely Prof. Severre Arne Sande from Oslo University of Norway clearly mentioned in his report that Dr. Sajid Bashir did not possess required number of 15 research publications; a pre-requisite for appointment as Professor of Pharmacy (BS-21). The petitioner, therefore, claimed that Dr. Sajid Bashir was not eligible for appointment as Professor of Pharmacy (BS-21), as he was deficient on criterion of required number of research publications. The second foreign referee namely Muhammad Azmi Ahmad Hassali was research collaborator of Dr. Sajid Bashir. He, therefore, should not have been selected as foreign referee to evaluate application dossier of his research collaborator. The petitioner termed it a conflict of interest, thus needs to be addressed accordingly. He further contended that meeting of the Selection Board dated 20″ March 2012 in which the case of appointment of Dr. Sajid Bashir as Professor of Pharmacy (BS-21) was discussed, was short of quorum, because one member of the Selection Board namely Dr. Zahoor- ul-Hassan, who attended the meeting of the Selection Board as Dean of Pharmacy, was not appointed as Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy by the Governor/Chancellor/Competent Authority. He was rather assigned look after charge of this Faculty by the Vice Chancellor. He, therefore, contented that Dr. Zahoor-ul-Hassan, who was Dean of Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, was not entitled to attend the meeting of the Selection Board as Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy. In all four members, including Dr. Zahoor ul Hassan, attended the meeting of the Selection Board dated 20″ March 2012, which is the minimum requirement of the quorum of the Selection Board in terms of Para 6(3) of the First Statutes appended as Schedule with the University of Sargodha Ordinance 2002. He further submitted that Dr. Zahoor ul Hassan was appointed as Dean, Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences. Dean, Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences comes to an end on 18th February, 2012. The petitioner, therefore, contended that Dr. Zahoor ul Hassan was not even Dean of Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences on 20th March 2012, the date of meeting of the selection board.
Therefore, in compliance of the order of the Chancellor, University of Sargodha / Governor of Punjab vide No. GS(Univ-I)11-5/2017-25 dated 16.09.2021, after detailed discussion, constituted the following committee to review the recruitment process of appointment of Dr. Sajid Bashir as Professor of Pharmacy (BS-21) with due attention to the alleged irregularities and recommend necessary action, if required, against the University Authorities / Officers/Officials on their failure to perform their duty as per requirement of the University Law/Statutes. The committee will submit its recommendations to the Syndicate for consideration.
The Syndicate in its 1/2022 meeting held on 27.09.2022 issued order under notification No. SU/Admin(HR) 6464-74 dated: 67.11.2022 to investigate and explore the matter. That will also establish the compliance with the order of the Chancellor, University of Sargodha / Governor of Punjab vide No. GS(Univ-I)11-5/2017-25 dated 16.09.2021, after detailed discussion, constituted the following committee to review the recruitment process of appointment of Dr. Sajid Bashir as Professor of Pharmacy (BS-21) with due attention to the alleged irregularities and recommend necessary action, if required, against the University Authorities / Officers/Officials on their failure to perform their duty as per requirement of the University Law/Statutes. The members of the committee are as under,
- Convener – Prof. Dr. Robina Farooq (T.1) Vice Chancellor Govt. College Women University Faisalabad, Pakistan.
- Member – Prof. (Rtd.) Dr. Rubina Tareen, Member Syndicate
- Member – Additional Secretary (Universities) or his nominee Higher Education Department Govt. of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
- Deputy Registrar (HR) will act as Departmental Representative for assistance to the committee.