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Botched media coverage of convocation: Punjab University PRO denies being demoted

* Accuses registrar of maligning him to accommodate his nephew as PRO
* Registrar denies accusations, says he is open for inquiry

Staff Report

LAHORE: Punjab University Senior Public Relations Officer (PRO) Muhammad Rashid Khan has denied being demoted by the university, saying his case is pending with the Syndicate, which is the correct authority to decide the issue.

He told Daily Times on Thursday that a majority of Syndicate members had supported his case by showing him the official documents in which the vice chancellor praised him. He said, “The Syndicate members have also highlighted the point that the university can’t demote me as I have successfully completed my probation period.”

Clarifying the allegation of not having invited journalists to the university’s 115th convocation, Rashid said, “The Press Information Department (PID) had chosen official journalists (PTV, Radio, PID and APP) to cover the convocation because President Pervez Musharraf was the chief guest. PID cancelled the names of several journalists keeping in view security measures. PID issued a letter along with the list of journalists struck off from the original list.

“The coverage of Musharraf’s visit to any institution is entirely PID’s responsibility and it fulfils its policy of clearing journalists, and PROs do not have the authority to issue or cancel invitation cards or security passes. The convocation was covered well in the national press and the VC praised me for it. The registrar doesn’t have any knowledge of media functions and his ignorance is the main cause of worsening press-university relations.“It is also on record that the registrar got his nephew appointed in my place and that is why he is playing a partisan role against me. I reject all allegations including the hacking of the university’s email account levelled against me by Registrar Prof Dr Naeem Khan. He has been avoiding an inquiry to hide his intensions and is trying to approve his illegal actions by the Syndicate without providing me the opportunity to explain my case to the authority.”

The registrar rejected all the explanations given by the PRO. He said he had proof of misconduct and irregularities by Rashid Khan while in office and that his (Rashid’s) insistence on adding the names of three of his own men in the already cleared list of reporters had caused the cancellation of the original list.

He also said documents on Rashid’s misconduct would be presented to the authorities for further action, if necessary. He also blasted the assumption that he had given his relative a job in the university administration. He said he did not have personal grudges against anyone and that the university had suspended 40 employees for misconduct and irregularities itself.

He said, “We have already been compassionate to Rashid and only demoted him despite the fact that his case deserves dismissal from service. He has also started working somewhere despite being a government employee.” He said it was his duty to enforce discipline and maintain a uniform policy and that he would always try to make sure that nobody was above the law.

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