HEC declares the promotion of Dr Arfana Mallah as illegal

[Azhar Ali Shah]

 

JAMSHORO, Feb 9: Higher Education Commission (HEC) Vide letter No. 1-AD/QA/HEC/USINDH/2015/807 Dated Jan 28, 2015 (copy attached herewith) has informed the University of Sindh that recent promotion of two faculty members namely Dr Arfana Mallah and Dr Ambreen Zeb Khaskheli to the post of Professor is in violation of HEC criteria.

HEC issued this letter after conducting investigation in response to complaint lodged by Dr Azhar Ali Shah former President Sindh University Teachers Association (SUTA). 

It must also be noted that Dr Arfana Mallah used same illegal experience for getting promotion to the post of Associate Professor during the time of controversial VC Dr Nazir Mughal in 2012. It was because of this promotion that she compromised the SU Teachers movement and facilitated the re-joining of Dr Nazir A Mughal and continuously created divide among the teaching community. 

Now as the a result of HEC’s observations her two promotions are declared illegal and she shall be penalized for using fake credentials. These illegal promotions also indicate that incumbent VC Dr Abida Taherani is not fit for her position and is openly involved in favoritism, nepotism and corruption.

PS: HEC letter attached herewith. 

 

 

Dr Azhar Ali Shah
Former President
Sindh University Teachers Association (SUTA)
03444473014

 

 

BACKGROUND

Sindh University Selection Board awards promotions/appointments to faculty members in violation of set criteria, rules and regulations

 

JAMSHORO, August 6, 2015: The Selection Board of the University of Sindh chaired by the Vice-Chancellor Dr Abida Taherani and consisting of the members including Justice (R) Deedar Shah, Mr Ghulam Nabi Shah (Former Law Secretary), Ms Kulssom Chandio (MPA), nominees of the Sindh Public Service Commission, HEC and concerned Deans and Directors held its meeting on 28^th July 2015. It recommended the cases of 28 Assistant Professors (BPS-19) to Associate Professor (BPS-20) and 30 Associate Professors (BPS-20) to Professors (BPS-21).

 

While many issues relating to proper scrutiny and eligibility of the promoted/appointed candidates have been reported; the cases of two faculty members are considered to be out of turn promotions and have resulted in too much hue and cry from majority of the faculty members and their elected representatives. One of the beneficiary of these out of turn promotions is allegedly Ms Arfana Mallah who applied for promotion from the post of Associate Professor (BPS-20) to Professor (BPS-21) in Physical Chemistry. 

 

 

Before the meeting of the Selection Board, President of the Sindh University Teachers Associate (SUTA) Dr Ayaz Keerio and many other faculty members submitted joint written complaints to Sindh University Vice-Chancellor Dr Abida Taherani demanding cancellation of Ms Mallah’s application for the post of Professor (BPS-20) in Physical Chemistry. According to faculty members Ms Mallah has only 12 years and 5 months of valid teaching/research and professional experience while as per HEC and Sindh University Statutes, rules and regulations minimum 15 years of experience are required to be eligible to apply for the post of Professor. In order to cover the shortage in the length of service Ms Mallah is claims her experience as Lecturer (BPS-17) at Government Nazrath College Hyderabad, which is not a Post-graduate Institute from 2000 to 2004 and she also claims the research experience of under the project of Pakistan Science Foundation at the same time 1999 to 2003 in contradiction to letter issued by the Principal Officer of Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) which says that Ms Mallah remained Research Associate on for the period of 1 year and 5 months (Nov 21, 1998 to April 30, 2000). According to faculty members there are so many SU teachers having college-side experience but it has never been counted for promotion at the University if that college is not offering the Masters level degree program in the related discipline.

 

Ms Ambreen Zeb Khaskheli has two Masters Degrees. She did MSc in Computer Science in 1999 and was appointed as Data Entry/Computer Operator at Sindh Development Studies Center (SDSC). In the mean time Ms Khaskeli also did MA Economics from college side in 2003 and on the basis of this degree she  was appointed as Lecturer in at Department of Economics in 2006.

 

Now Ms Khaskheli claims that from 2000 to 2006 she remained Research Associate at SDSC and that experience be counted for her promotion to the post of Professor (copy of the certificate attached). This certificate is not authentic as there is no record of Ms Ambreen Zeb Khaskeli's appointment as Research Associate neither she was paid any salary under that head. Her colleagues at the Department including Dr Muhamad Akram Gilal who is PhD in Economics from the University of Glassgow sent written complain to the Vice-Chancellor demanding cancellation of Ms Ambreen Khaskheli's application for the post of Professor as she recieved the degree of Economics in 2003 and was appointed as Lecturer in 2006 and hence she does not posses required experience of 15 years in the relevant field.According to Dr Gilal, the experience of Ms Khaskheli at SDSC is unrelated and not recnognized as teaching/research or professional experience in Economics. The Vice-Chancellor, without redressing the complaints of Dr Gilal approved the case of Ms Khaskheli through the selection board in violation of the HEC and SU Statutes, Rules and Regulations.

 

 

It is strange that on one hand the Selection Board Recommended the cases of some faculty members who were short of the required criteria and on the other hand some faculty members having extra ordinary academic credentials were denied their due promotions on the bases of lame excuses. These faculty members including Dr Zaffar Ibupoto (Chemistry). Dr Iqramul Haq (Genetics), Dr Ahmed Ali Hulio (Chemistry), Dr Aijaz Ahmed Wassan (Sociology) and others have moved their appeals against the decision of the selection Board.

 

 

These out of turn promotion would violate the seniority rights of hundreds of SU teachers and they have moved their appeals to the Governor Sindh who is also the Chancellor of the University f Sindh for action under section 10 (3) of the University of Sindh Act 1972 and Sindh Chief Minster Sindh and Sindh HEC for immediate action under section 10 (1) (r) of the Sindh Higher Education Commission (SHEC) Act 2013 and also Higher Education Commission (HEC) Islamabad. The appellants demand the authorities to ensure proper promotions of all the faculty members as per approved and established Statutes, Rules and Regulations and eliminate the incidents of favouritism and nepotism in order to create cohesive and conducive academic environment at the University of Sindh.