Uncertainty deepens at Gomal university as controversial VC reclaims office

A cloud of uncertainty and apprehension has deepened at Gomal University after controversial Vice Chancellor Zafar Iqbal

DERA ISMAIL KHAN:  A cloud of uncertainty and apprehension has deepened at Gomal University after controversial Vice Chancellor Zafar Iqbal reportedly reclaimed his office on his own following the expiry of his forced leave, allegedly without securing permission from the Higher Education Department (HED) authorities.

Zafar Iqbal had been placed on forced leave pending investigations into a number of allegations against him. Multiple inquiries into the affairs of the university had reportedly pointed to alleged financial and administrative irregularities. In view of these allegations, Chief Minister Suhail Afridi constituted a high powered inquiry committee headed by the Commissioner of Dera Ismail Khan to examine the matter.

The chief minister had placed Zafar Iqbal on a three month forced leave to prevent any possible interference in the investigations or tampering with official records. During his absence, Prof Dr Naimatullah Babar was appointed vice chancellor to oversee the university’s day-to-day affairs.

An economist by profession, Prof Dr Babar reportedly expressed concern over the financial burden created by more than 400 fresh appointments in different grades, allegedly made in disregard of prescribed rules and regulations. The additional appointments, according to officials, further aggravated the university’s already serious financial crisis.

Babar also persuaded the relevant authorities to provide additional funds to enable the university to meet its salary and pension obligations. The university had already accumulated thousands of employees while its student enrolment was declining.

He also encouraged faculty members to adopt a more proactive approach focused on academic quality and faculty performance in order to attract students, restore their confidence and rebuild the trust of parents.

In a move that was seen as a symbol of simplicity, Babar travelled on the university bus and made biometric attendance mandatory in an effort to identify and eliminate so-called ghost employees.

However, a group of teachers, allegedly led by a person who had faced corruption related allegations in the past, launched a campaign against the university administration. The individual is also alleged to have close links with Zafar Iqbal and to have secured promotion to Grade 21 through three stages in a recent selection board. Questions have also reportedly been raised about the person’s PhD degree.

The group allegedly attempted to disrupt administrative affairs and challenge the inquiry process. It also reportedly launched a negative campaign against the Commissioner of Dera Ismail Khan in various WhatsApp groups, apparently in an effort to undermine the inquiry and facilitate Zafar Iqbal’s return to the vice chancellor’s office.

Zafar Iqbal subsequently returned to the office before the completion of multiple inquiries initiated by various government institutions. Critics have questioned the provincial government’s failure to prevent the move and have alleged that he took advantage of administrative inaction to reclaim the office.

Meanwhile, PTI social media influencer Shahbaz Gill has also reportedly been campaigning for Zafar Iqbal’s reinstatement. Gill, who was previously dismissed by the same Islamabad-based university over allegations of harassment of female students, has publicly maintained a political and social media profile closely associated with PTI.

The university had also reportedly removed Zafar Iqbal in 2020 following allegations of corruption.

According to Islamabad-based lawyer Chaudhry Sharafat Ali, both Shahbaz Gill and Zafar Iqbal have played significant roles in what he described as anti state campaigns on X, formerly Twitter, and other social media platforms. He further claimed that Zafar Iqbal, a professor of media studies, has expertise in the field of hate speech.

“Zafar himself has acknowledged his close association with PTI leaders in the past, while his appointment as vice chancellor of Gomal University has widely been viewed as a reward by the PTI government for his social media services,” Chaudhry Sharafat Ali said.

University officials told Minute Mirror that Zafar Iqbal and members of his group had allegedly started issuing threats to Prof Dr Naimatullah Babar and others who had been working to address the university’s financial and administrative problems.

According to the officials, Shahbaz Gill has conveyed to Chief Minister Suhail Afridi that Zafar Iqbal should be restored to the vice chancellor’s office regardless of the findings of the ongoing inquiries.

They warned that accepting such a demand could potentially force the government to overlook allegations surrounding the recruitment of more than 400 employees, including claims of irregularities in the recruitment process.

The appointments have reportedly created a salary burden running into tens of millions of rupees every month. Unless the government reviews or cancels the appointments found to be irregular, officials fear that the financial burden will continue to be borne by the university and, ultimately, by taxpayers.

The escalating dispute has not only raised questions about the future leadership of Gomal University but has also heightened concerns about administrative stability, financial accountability and the integrity of ongoing investigations at the institution.