Fake degrees nothing to do with removing VC: Meena Khan

Campaign to defame Sohail Afridi in full swing; 4 newly promoted professors move court against KP government decision to investigate corruption charges in university

Dera Ismail Khan: Minister for Higher Education Meena Khan Afridi has cleared on the floor of the house that fake degrees case has nothing to do with sending Gomal University Vice Chancellor Dr. Zafar Iqbal home on forced leave.

He said there were reports of misconduct, allegations of corruption and use of fire arms on campus. He said these reports reached the floor of the KP Assembly a couple of months before the issue of fake degrees surfaced.

He said the KP government is committed to investigating the issue of fake degrees but this issue has nothing to do with removing Zafar Iqbal as the vice chancellor was facing allegations of misconduct long before this issue surfaced.

Gomal University corruption controversies swept through the country shortly after Zafar Iqbal took over as the vice chancellor on May 5, 2025 till Anti Corruption Establishment (ACE) initiated a mega inquiry against him exactly one year later on May 5, 2026.

During this one year, he faced many inquiries into mega corruption scandals. Zafar Iqbal has now mounted a move to malign Chief Minister Suhail Afridi to pressurize him, said a source commenting on the sit-in that Zafar Iqbal’s supporters set up in the city and in which they shouted slogans against the provincial government.

A careful analysis of the social media shows that more than 200 accounts have been engaged in the campaign to defame and discredit Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. Social media channels from Islamabad and Punjab have also been engaged in this campaign.

Zafar Iqbal is a teacher of media and he is using his students and friends in journalism to defame and discredit Sohail Afridi, said a senior journalist in Islamabad.

Gomal University remains the focus of administrative and legal attention following the provincial government’s decision to place former Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Zafar Iqbal on 90 days compulsory leave and constitute a three-member inquiry committee.

According to the government notification, the committee will examine complaints and concerns related to the recent selection board, appointments, and promotions, including issues raised through written applications, media reports, and other sources. The findings of the inquiry are yet to be announced.

In a related development, sources say that four professors who received promotions through the recent selection board have approached the Peshawar High Court, Dera Ismail Khan Bench, challenging the decision regarding the former vice chancellor’s compulsory leave.

The petitioners reportedly include Professor Dr. Noor Muhammad, President of Gomal University Academic Staff Association (GUASA), along with three other professors.

Some observers view the petition as a legal challenge to an administrative decision, while others believe it may have implications for the ongoing inquiry process. However, the matter remains before the court and the allegations relating to the selection board are yet to be conclusively determined.

Senior High Court lawyer Waqar Alam Advocate stated that legal challenges by government employees against administrative decisions are a common constitutional remedy; however, he argued that such matters require careful examination when official inquiries are already underway.

Commenting on the professional record of Dr. Zafar Iqbal, Waqar Alam referred to previous administrative controversies associated with institutions where Dr. Iqbal had served. He maintained that repeated institutional disputes raise questions regarding administrative approaches and governance issues, which, according to him, should ultimately be evaluated through documented facts and official records.

Dr. Zafar Iqbal and other concerned parties have the right to present their position before the relevant forums. The final outcome of the inquiry and court proceedings will determine the factual and legal status of the issues under discussion.

The positions of Gomal University administration, former Vice Chancellor Dr. Zafar Iqbal, and the petitioners will be included if formally provided.