Gomal university VC sent on forced leave as probe expands into recruitment, financial and administrative irregularities

Fresh allegations of financial irregularities, controversial appointments and administrative mismanagement have surfaced at Gomal

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Fresh allegations of financial irregularities, controversial appointments and administrative mismanagement have surfaced at Gomal University following the forced leave of Vice Chancellor Dr. Zafar Iqbal and the constitution of a three-member inquiry committee headed by the Commissioner of Dera Ismail Khan Division.

According to university sources, the committee has been tasked with investigating recruitment practices, financial affairs, administrative decisions and the academic crisis that allegedly emerged during Dr. Iqbal’s tenure. The development comes alongside the removal of acting Registrar Zahir Shah and the emergence of several alleged financial scandals.

Sources claim that an alleged mechanism involving payments from private affiliated colleges has come under scrutiny. It is alleged that viva examination fees amounting to hundreds of thousands of rupees were transferred directly into personal bank accounts instead of official university channels. Following the initiation of inquiries, former Controller of Examinations Hafeez Khattak reportedly submitted a cheque worth Rs1.2 million to the university administration, claiming the amount had been received from private colleges and should be returned to the university. The current administration has reportedly decided to present the relevant evidence before the inquiry committee.

Hafeez Khattak retired on April 15 this year. University sources further allege that during his tenure, his son was appointed as a Grade-18 lecturer despite initially failing the written examination and later qualifying after a re-totaling process. These claims have verified by the two member inquiry committee headed by Dr Usman Ghanib

Additional allegations have also emerged regarding viva examinations conducted at private affiliated colleges. Sources allege that acting Controller of Examinations Muhammad Talha, described as a classmate of the former vice chancellor Dr Zafar Iqbal, personally visited colleges and collected Rs50,000 per institution in the name of viva arrangements. The allegations are expected to be examined during the ongoing inquiry process.

Dr. Zafar Iqbal, who had cultivated a public image of integrity and local representation, is now facing scrutiny amid claims that his administration contributed to a severe financial, administrative and academic crisis at the university. The allegations have generated significant public debate in the region.

The inquiry follows an earlier investigation after which the provincial government directed Dr. Iqbal to proceed on forced leave and ordered a comprehensive review of his administration. According to preliminary findings cited by sources, 117 appointments ranging from Grade-1 to Grade-16 were made during his tenure. The report allegedly states that 67 of those appointments were intended to accommodate individuals linked to influential political circles, not less then the CM ,while another 50 positions were allegedly distributed among various powerful groups.

Investigators are also examining a highly controversial selection board process through which nearly 100 appointments in Grades 16 to 21 and promotions for approximately 127 employees from Grades 17 to 21 were approved within a span of six days. Critics have questioned the transparency and merit of the process.

A previous two-member inquiry committee reportedly expressed serious reservations regarding alleged violations of merit and the deprivation of eligible candidates. However, the investigation process was subsequently challenged in court. University academic circles maintain that the scale and speed of the appointments and promotions were unprecedented in the history of Pakistani universities.

Members of a group representing PhD faculty at Gomal University have argued that no comparable example exists in the country where 227 appointments and promotions were processed within such a short period.

The controversy has also revived discussion about Dr. Iqbal’s professional record. Critics point to previous disputes during his service in other institutions, though these claims remain matters of public debate and have not resulted in any publicly known judicial findings related to the current allegations.

The inquiry committee is expected to submit its findings after reviewing recruitment records, financial transactions, examination-related payments and administrative decisions taken during the former vice chancellor’s tenure.

No official response from Dr. Zafar Iqbal, Hafeez Khattak or other individuals named in the allegations was available at the time of filing this report.