VC removes Punjab University resident officer-I

By Waqar Gillani

LAHORE: Punjab University (PU) vice chancellor Lt Gen (r) Arshad Mahmood, on Wednesday, removed PU resident officer-I Prof Umar Farooq for allegedly opposing his decision to establish the College of Environmental and Earth Sciences.

Dr Ameen Athar of the Institute of Biotechnology and Biochemistry has assumed charge as resident officer-1. Prof Farooq was not available for comment. The PU refused comment saying only that transfers and postings were a routine matter in the university.

PU officials told Daily Times that there had been a few inquiries against Prof Farooq, which had all gone against him. They indicated that there could have been other reasons for his removal.

The vice chancellor had already revoked Prof Farooq’s authority over the administration of security, the university guesthouse and the transport system at the start of April.

The teachers of the PU Institute of Geology had opposed Mahmood’s decision to merge the Postgraduate Centre for Earth Sciences and the Institute of Environmental Sciences into the College of Environmental and Earth Sciences three months ago. Prof Farooq, PU Institute of Geology head, along with Board of Studies members opposed the merger and asked the vice chancellor to withdraw the decision.

The PU officials said that after Prof Farooq protested the decision, Mahmood started searching for a new resident office. He said that a few teachers had been offered the position, but they all refused.

Home | National