Pakistan’s Higher Education Reform Experiment

The latest issue of Nature (Volume 461 Number 7260, September 3, 2009) published an article as well as an editorial on Pakistan’s higher education reform experiment and on the Higher Education Commission (HEC). We are sharing editorial and for article please click here (Pakistan's reform experiment). This article is jointly contributed by Athar Osama, Adil Najam, Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, Syed Zulfiqar Gilani & Christopher King

------------

Editorial

Nature 461, 11-12 (3 September 2009) doi:10.1038/461011b; Published online 2 September 2009

Cash costs

Massive funding for Pakistan's ailing universities holds many lessons for other developing nations. Eight years ago, a task force advising Pakistan's former military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, laid out a bold plan to revitalize the country's moribund research system: initiate a fivefold increase in public funding for universities, with a special emphasis on science, technology and engineering. The proposal was a radical departure from conventional wisdom on the economics of developing nations, which favours incremental investments. Sudden surges of cash are held to be dangerous in poorer countries, which often lack the institutions or the calibre of people required to make the most of such a windfall, and the money can easily be wasted or fall prey to corruption.

Nonetheless, Musharraf agreed to the proposal. The reforms began in 2003. And the results, which have now earned a qualified thumbs-up from a group of experts in science and education policy..., offer some valuable lessons for other developing nations.

First, conventional wisdom isn't always right. Despite early doubts that Musharraf's autocratic regime could allocate the new funds effectively, the experts cite initiatives such as a free national digital library and high-speed Internet access for universities as examples of success, as well as new scholarships enabling more than 2,000 students to study abroad for PhDs — with incentives to return to Pakistan afterwards. And they acknowledge that the years of reform have coincided with increases in the number of Pakistani authors publishing in research journals, especially in mathematics and engineering, as well as boosting the impact of their research outside Pakistan.

Second, human capital matters. One concern raised by the report published in this issue is that the 3,500 candidates for Pakistan's new domestic PhD programmes have had lower qualifications than the candidates going abroad. But that is a situation that should correct itself over time as Pakistan's schools improve. For the time being, the more important point is that Pakistan has opened up the chance of a research degree to many more people than in the past — including those who do not have wealthy families, or access to influential people, or good skills in European languages. Harnessing those reserves of talent is an integral part of any nation's development.

Finally, accountability is essential. This was not a priority for the architects of Pakistan's educational reform, partly because they were working for an autocratic regime, and partly because they were in too much of a hurry. The government seemed to be living on borrowed time, Musharraf's science adviser, Atta-ur-Rahman, has recalled. On the one hand, politicians, judges and lawyers were pressing for a return to democracy; on the other, the influence of the Pakistani Taliban was increasing. Suicide bombers twice tried to assassinate Musharraf — once by blowing up his motorcade as he returned from making a speech to scientists. If the reformers didn't get their programme in place quickly, they feared they might not get it in place at all.

The result, however, is that the body created to implement the reforms, the Higher Education Commission, has operated with minimal oversight by academics, parliamentarians or anyone else. There has been some waste, although no one has yet accused the commission of egregious abuses of power. But it has exhibited blind spots that an outside influence might have corrected — notably a total lack of investment in the social sciences and policy research, disciplines that encourage the asking of questions that autocratic regimes frequently dislike answering.

This must change. Pakistan is no longer a dictatorship. The elected government, under President Asif Ali Zardari, has expressed cautious support for continuing Musharraf's education reforms. It therefore has an opportunity to build on their successes and correct their shortcomings — starting with an independent review of the commission's performance.

IIUI Signs MoU with the State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA

Islamabad. The International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI) and the State University of New York at Stony Brook, United State of American (SBU) in reconginition of their common interests in developing bilateral relations and cooperation between institutes of higher learning contributing to cultural enrichment, scientific progress, and the consolidation of friendship, have signed an MoU for Exchange of students, faculty and administrative staff. Both sides decided that instructional and cultural programs, specific mechanisms for the implementation of cooperative and collaborative activities shall be established.

The agreement shall be valid for a period of five years and at the end of each term, this agreement will be automatically renewed by mutual agreement for an additional term of five year. The MoU was signed by Dr. Anwar Hussain Siddiqui, President of the International Islamic University Islamabad and Samuel Stanley, Jr., M.D, President, Stony Brook University, New York, during recent visit of Dr. Siddiqui to the USA. Meanwhile Dr. Mohammad Sher, of the International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI) has been gives best university teacher award by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) for playing an important role in enhancing the academic atmosphere during the year 2008.

7th Convocation of the Islamic International University, Islamabad, (IIUI)

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s popularity rose a notch higher in the student community as he, in a generous mood, interacted with them after conferring doctorate degrees on graduates and decorating 34 of them with gold medals at the seventh convocation of the International Islamic University (IIU) on Sunday.

Employment opportunities were foremost in the mind of a fresh women graduate as she raised the question of availability of jobs after leaving the institution.

Prime Minister Gilani answered that jobs would become available in the market with the improvement in the law and order situation. ‘Jobs are linked with peace and tranquility,’ he said. There was an indication here that after things settled down in Swat and Malakand, and peace returned to the area, there would be a run on jobs.

The premier also implied that peace and job availability were the products of the constitutional governments and good governance.

Prime Minister Gilani also announced a grant of Rs450 million to build a students’ hostel at the International Islamic University (IIU). He also said he believed 100 per cent in the autonomy of the Higher Education Commission. ‘Health and education is government’s priority,’ he said, adding that after the US law providing $1.5 billion to Pakistan, more money would be made available to Pakistan, meaning that gradually the allocation to the education sector would increase to five per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). HEC Chairperson Shahnaz Wazir Ali was sitting beside him as he made the announcement.

The prime minister had a good word for the university’s new direction in setting up more departments and departments for study of science and technology as well as in setting up the Allama Iqbal Centre for Research and Dialogue, because ‘education is a religious duty, and it was an extension of change and progress.’

Prime Minister Gilani, in his speech, concluded that he wanted the IIU to develop into a great institution of learning which would serve students from all over the world.

IIU Rector Prof Fateh Mohammad Malik drew the prime minister’s attention to the university’s stride in making advancements. In this regard, he particularly mentioned the Iqbal Institute of Research and Dialogue, which had organised significant seminars with the participation of a number of eminent scholars such as Karen Armstrong, and others.

IIU President Anwar Husain Siddiqui pressed for autonomy for the Higher Education Commission as well as more funds to implement the 15 per cent raise in pay for the faculty as provided in the new budget.

He said the IIU was the largest university in northern Pakistan, with enrolment of 17,000 students, of which 1,500 are 47 countries, with 560 students from China.

As many as 2,285 students were awarded graduate degrees in the convocation ceremony.
Prime Minister Gilani conferred gold medals on Samina Yasmeen and Hafiz Mohammad Haroon (Arabic); Maria Sabir, Arooj Wais, Hina Mahmood, Mehwish Huma, Saeed Afzal, Syed Mohammad Ali Shah, and Altaf Ghafoor (basic and applied sciences); Mohammad Asad(engineering); Younis Hussain, Faiza Zafar and Sania Batool (economics); Mohammad Anas and Ayesha Quratul Ain (Islamic studies); Khola Majeed, Maryam Waqar Qazi and Aminullah Sahrai (literature); Mohammad Tajul Malook, Waheeduz Zaman and Ayesha Rashid Lone, Sidra al-Hassan, Sumayya Shaheen, Shadia Noor, Sara Shuja and Shahe Naveed (management sciences); Aneesa Khatoon, Tayyaba Anwar, Maqzia Hafeez, Rukhsana and Saira Urooj (social sciences); Asim Murtaza Cheema, Hafiz Mohammad Waqas and Nadia Khanam (Shariah and law).

Good Governance

It is once again established that IIUI is a little Pakistan where “President” and “Prime Minister” are struggling with their powers and the rolling stone is as usual our university! If you have any doubts about this characterization then please go through the following two notifications which were sent within a time span of 2 days about IIUI Convocation 2009. We wonder that why it is always crucial for our administration to specify for their humiliation that “This issues under the instructions of Rector, IIU” and then “This issues under the instructions of President, IIU” After all face-saving is also something! We hope that our new Rector, Dr. Malik, must have learned a hard lesson of living within his limits. Bravo Dr. Siddiqui!

Our Shame: HEC Published Research Output of Pakistani Universities

Higher Education Commission of Pakistan has published and analysis of research publications from Pakistani Universities, which appeared in e-reviewed journals indexed by Thomason Reuters, ISI Web of knowledge during the years 2007-08. The databases of ISI Web of Knowledge used SCI-Expended, SCCI and A& HCI. GC University Lahore got 6th position among all public and private universities of Pakistan. Please click here for details. (Courtesy to: GCU Website)

See where IIUI stands in the list:

1. Quaid-e-Azam University: Publications in 2007: 409 and publications in 2008: 544
2. University of Karachi: Publications in 2007: 276 and publications in 2008: 419
3. Aga Khan University 186 and 311
4. University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 252 and 310
5. University of The Punjab 162 and 278
6. Govt. College University 97 and 154
7. COMSATS Institute of Information Technology 92 and 149
8. University of Sargodha 38 and 115
9. University of Sind, Jamshoro 59 and 105
10. University of Peshawar 77 and 97
11. Bahauddin Zakariya University 50 and 92
12. National University of Science & Technology 48 and 92
13. University of Arid Agriculture 49 and 87
14.University of Engineering & Technology,Lahore 38 and 55
15. DOW University of Health Sciences 11 49
16.GIK Institute of Engineering Science &Technology: 16 and 46
17. University of Baluchistan 28 and 40
18. Islamia University 22 and 40
19. NWFP Agricultural University 20 and 29
20. Lahore University of Management Sciences 19 and 27
21. University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences 11 and 26
22. Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology 07 and 26
23. Gomal University 12 and 24
24. Ziauddin Medical University 07 and 24
25. King Edward Medical University 12 and 23
26. Kohat University of Science & Technology 06 and 23
27. Baqai Medical University 11 and 22
28. International Islamic University: Publications in 2007: 05 and Publications in 2008: 21

For full list, please follow the link provided above. The list is pretty much revealing. We stand far behind in research and publications and IIUI faculty members generally don’t publish. One can argue that our faculty members do publish but largely in non-ISI indexed journals. The point is well taken but then IIUI administration should take up this matter with HEC stating the factual position and asking them to rationalize their criteria of developing such lists. This list is now almost an annual feature of HEC’s quality control procedures to identify hardworking-good guys from sluggish-bad guys. According to this list, we clearly fall in the latter category. Is anybody listening?

Karachi University Takes Action Against Plagiarism!

Can we expect such an active role from our BoG?

IIUI Scholarships

From: http://www.iiu.edu.pk/events/scholarship/hec_scholarship.html

Applications are invited from qualified persons for a limited number of HEC sponsored overseas scholarships (Male & Female) for Ph.D studies in the reputed and recognized Universities abroad for the following disciplines:-

Law
Software Engineering
Psychology
Engineering & Technology
Computer Science
Environmental Sciences
Management Sciences
Telecom Engineering
Mass Communication
Bioinformatics

Minimum eligibility Criteria

1. The applicant shall be a Pakistani/AJK National.
2. Candidates should have minimum M.Phil/MS degree (18 years of education) in the relevant discipline from HEC recognized University/Institution.
3. Should have not less than 50% marks throughout the academic career.
4. Maximum age on June 14, 2008:
a. 40 years for full time regular faculty members of public sector Universities/Colleges and employees of the public sector R&D organizations.
b. 35 years for all others.
5. Candidates must have acquired the requisite academic qualification on the cut off date of the application i.e. 11.05.2009.
6. Persons in receipt of any other scholarship offer are NOT eligible to apply.
7. Preference given to:
a. Those who hold valid admission for Ph.D
b. Candidates who have been offered admission in tuition free institution.
c. Candidates whose admission requires minimum possible fees.
d. Candidates who preferably hold admission to universities in USA, Australia, Germany, New Zealand and Scandinavian countries.

Application Procedure

Candidates will be required to fill the application form online and submit printed copy of online application along with non-refundable processing fee of Rs.500/- in the form of Pay Order/Bank Draft in favor of International Islamic University, Islamabad.. Attach following documents along with the prescribed application form:-
1. CV/Resume
2. Attested photocopy of CNIC
3. Most recent photographs (4 Nos.)
4. Attested photocopies of all Educational Testimonials, Equivalence of foreign qualification/s from IBCC/HEC will be required.
5. Statement of Purpose for pursuing higher studies (max. 500 words).
6. Research Proposal.
7. NOC from the employer (in-service candidates).
8. Attested photocopy of valid NTS pass certificate.
9. Attested photocopy of confirmed admission for Ph.D.
10. Three letters of reference from academic/research supervisors.
Eligible faculty members of IIUI, if interested, are advised to route their applications through proper channel. They are not required to pay the processing fee of Rs.500/-.
NOTE:- All above documents should be in proper order.

IMPORTANT NOTE:-

1 All Scholarships will be awarded on open merit.
2 Confirmed and unconditional admission letters should clearly state that the admission is valid for a Ph.D programme.
3 In-service candidates should apply through proper channel. Advance copies will not be entertained.
4 Funding for a maximum period of 4 years will be provided for Ph.D studies. Expenses beyond the allocated fund shall be borne by the candidate himself/herself for which an undertaking will be required after selection.
5 Awardees have to execute a bond with the IIU to serve it for 5 years after completion of study. 6 Continuation of Scholarship shall be subject to satisfactory performance certified by the respective supervisor of the host University.
7 Incomplete and applications received after due date will not be entertained.
8 Selected candidates from institutions other than IIU shall have to resign from their present jobs and will be provided the jobs at IIU as per rules.

NOTE:-

The IIU reserves the right to short list the candidates and to reject any/all applications without assigning any reason.
Click here to download Applications form, duly completed in all respects should reach the Director (Academic Planning & Coordination), International Islamic University, New Campus, Sector H-10, Islamabad by May 14, 2009 through registered mail or courier service.

(Gulzar Ahmed Khwaja)Director(Academic Planning & Coordination)International Islamic UniversityNew Campus, Sector H-10, IslamabadTele: 051-9258044, 0345-5105155E-mail: gulkhwaja@iiu.edu.pk

Prof Fateh Malik: New Rector of IIUI

The Nation

OUR STAFF REPORTER

http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Regional/Islamabad/22-Feb-2009/Prof--Fateh-Malik-new-Rector-of-IIUI

ISLAMABAD - Prof. Fateh Muhammad Malik has assumed the charge of the Rector, International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) from Saturday. The President of Pakistan, as Chancellor of the International Islamic University, Islamabad appointed him Rector as per clause 12(1) of the IIUI Ordinance 1985. Earlier, Dr. Manzoor Ahmad, the outgoing Rector of the university relinquished the charge of the post of the Rector on February 21 on completion of his tenure.

Prof. Fateh Muhammad Malik is a leading scholar on Iqbaliyat, Urdu language and literature. He was also Chairman, National Language Authority. Professor Malik is the author of a number of books on Pakistan movement and literacy and cultural themes. He also served as Professor and Director of the Institute of Pakistan Studies at the Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad and as Iqbal Professor at Heidelberg University in Germany.

---------------------------------------------------

Introduction

Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik
(Sitara-e-Imtiaz)

Professor Malik is an acclaimed critic of Urdu literature. He is also a renowned scholar of Pakistan Studies and Islam. Currently he holds the prestigious position of the chairman of National Language Authority, Pakistan. His work has been published and recognized at national and international level. He was a visiting professor at Sir Allama Mohammad Iqbal chair in Heidelberg University, Germany for almost ten years. During his stay in Germany he taught, Iqbaliat, Islam and Pakistani culture, Urdu literature, and mysticism in Islam. He has authored several books, articles, and research papers in Urdu as well as in English. His latest work is SAADAT HASSAN MANTO: EK NAI TABIR.

Ex-Chairman, National Language Authority, Islamabad. December 2000.
Dy. Chairman Senate, Federal Urdu University, May 2006.
Visiting Professor, National Institute of Pakistan Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.
Visiting Professor, Taxila Institute of Asian Civilisations, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad

Qualifications: M.A (Urdu) - First Class First; Secured a Gold Medal
The University of Punjab, Lahore

Retired as Professor of Pakistan Studies / Director, National Institute of Pakistan Studies, Quaid-e-Azam University, and Islamabad.

Teaching Experience
a) 44 years of teaching and research experience at Postgraduate level; taught at Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad; Columbia University, New York; Heidelberg University; Humboldt University, Berlin and Saint Petersburg University, Russia.
b) Chairman, Department of Pakistan Studies, Quaid-e-Azam University, 1975 - 1978
c) Director, National Institute of Pakistan Studies, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad Sept. 1983 - Feb. 1984, 1988-1996.

Research Experience
a) Visiting Professor (Iqbal Chair), Heidelberg, University, Germany. 1984 - 88 and 1992 - 96.
b) Senior Research Fellow, Southern Asian Institute, Columbia University, New York. January - August 1975.
c) Deputy Director, (Languages) Curriculum Research and Development of Education, Government of Punjab, Lahore 1972 -74.

Publications

1) Iqbaliyat: (On National Poet Allama Mohammad Iqbal)
Books
1. 2003, "Iqbal Ka Fikri Nizam, Sang-i-Meel, Lahore
2. 2002, "Iqbal Faramoshi, Sang-i-Meel, Lahore.
3. 1999, "Islam and the West, Islamabad.
4. 1985, "Iqbal: Fiker-o-Amal, Bazm-i-Iqbal, Club Road, Lahore.
5. 1989, "Iqbal Aur Afghanistan, NIPS Publication, Islamabad.

2) Literary Criticism
6. 2005, "Saadat Hassan Manto: Ek Nai Tabir, Lahore.
7. 1999, "Apni Aag ki Talash, Lahore.
8. 1992, "Ahmed Nadim Qasimi: Shair Aur Afsana Nigar, Sangi-i-Meel Publications, Lahore.
9. 1988, "Faiz: Shairi Aur Siyasat, Sangi-i-Meel Publications, Lahore, Literary Criticism
10. 1984, "Tahsin-o- Tardeed" Third collection of Essays, Maktaba-i-Asbat, Rawalpindi
11. 1979, "Andaz-i-Nazar" Second Collection of Essays in Literary Criticism. Maktaba-al-Tahreer, Lahore.
12. 1973, "Tassubat" Collection of Essays in Literary Criticism, Maktaba-i-Fanoon, Lahore

3) Pakistan Studies
13. 2004, "Khit-a-Khak Ya Arz-a-Pak", Islamabad.
14. 2002, "Gulamoon Ki Ghulami", Islamabad.
15. 2001, "Kashmir Kahani", Islamabad.
16. 2001, "Fikri Tangdasti", Islamabad.
17. 1989, "Punjabi Identity", Sang-i-Meel Publications, Lahore

Edited Books
1. 2004, "Muslim Political Thought, Islamabad.
2. 2001, "Tehrik-e-Azadi-e-Kashmir: Urdu Adab Key Aaiene Main", Lahore.
3. 1983, "Phalastin: Urdu Adab Mein", Maktaba-i- Hurmat, Rawalpindi.
4. 1982, "Muntakhib Afsanay 1981", Maktaba-i- Hurmat, Rawalpindi.
5. 1981, "Muntakhib Afsana 1980" Maktaba-i- Hurmat, Rawalpindi.
(c) Contributed Chapters to Books
1. 1999, "Islamic Values" in Asian Values, London.
2. 1998, "Iqbal Inspired Humor", in Humor in South Asian Literature, Osterheld, New Delhi.
3. 1982, "Iqbal ka Nazria-i-Saqafat", N.C.A., Islamabad.
4. 1979, "Iqbal Mahmoohi-i-Aalam" by Dr. Sale em Akhtar, Bazm-i-Iqbal, Lahore.
5. 1977, "Iqbal Bahaseyat Shair", by Rafi-ud-Din Hashmi, Majlis-e-Tarraqi-i-Adab, Lahore.
6. 1977, "Sahifa-i-Iqbal" by Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, Gosha-i-Abad, Lahore.
7. 1981, "Maqalat" Pakistan Academy of Letters, Islamabad.
8. 1967, "Ahwal-o-Najadi-i-Ghalib" by Hayat Sayyal, Nazar Sons, Lahore.
9. 1966, "Nai Shairi" by Iftikhar Jalib, Lahore.
10. 1966, "Aab-i- Hayat ka T ehqiqi Metala" by Syed Sajjad, N ai Matbooat, Lahore.
11. 1964, "Behtreen Maqalat 1963: by Intizar Hussain, Maktaba-i- Jadid, Lahore.
12. 1963, "Behtreen Maqalat 1962: by Shohrat Bokhari, Maktaba-i- Jaadid, Lahore.

Research Articles
1. 2000, "The Image of Buddha in Iq bal, Jourual of South Asian Civilizations, Islamabad.
2. 1997, "Shah Hussain and the Malamitiyya Sufi Tradition", Pakistan Journal of History and Culture, Jan.
3. 1994, "Advent of Islam in Kashmir", Cultural Area Karakorum, Tabingen, Germany.
4. 1990, "The Role of Iqbal in Muslim Reawakening in Andre Wink (ed.) Islam Politics and Society in South Asia. Delhi.
5. 1987, "Iqbal, Naqshbandiya and Ideology of Muslim Nationalism, Iqbal Review, Lahore.
6. 1986, "Iqbal, Asbat-i-Nabuvat Aur Nazria-i-Pakistan, Naqoosh, Lahore.
7. 1977, "Iqbal's Concept of Pakistan, The Pakistan Times, Iqbal Centenary Supplement.
8. 1976, "Iqbal and Freedom Movement, The Pakistan Times, Iqbal Supplement.
9. 1975, "The Question of Nationalities: A Historical Perspective", Scrutiny, Islamabad.
10. 1976,"Tribalism Versus Modernism in Pakistan", Scrutiny Islamabad.
11. 1967, "Iqbal ki Ghazal, Funoon, Lahore.
12. 1964, "Iqbal kay Khilaf Rad-i-Amal Kayun? Funoon, Lahore.

26 Egyptian Teachers Join IIUI

Islamabad ( ) 26 Egyptian teachers joined International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI) here on Monday. A formal reception was arranged for them at the central library of the university. Dr. AnwarHussain Siddiqui, president of the university was chief guest on the occasion. In his welcome address Dr. Siddiqui appreciated the role of Egyptian government, Jama-e-Azhar and other Egyptian institutions in foundation of the Islamic University. He said that it was Egypt who provided a large number of teachers in early 90s. Two of IIUI early presidents were from Egypt. Dr. Siddiqui appreciated the role of Egyptian Embassy in Islamabad. He assured full cooperation to newly arrived Egyptian teachers and hoped that they would play their energetic role in teaching students and cementing relations with Egyptian as well as Arab world. The reception was also addressed by Ahmed Muhammad Abdul Azeem, Advisor Egyptian Embassy, Dr. Khalifa Hassan Ahmed, Vice President IIUI, Dr. Mehmood Sharf-al-din, Dr. AbdurRehman Hussain Muhammad, Head of the teachers, Dr. Zain-ul-abidin, Deputy Head of the teachers and a number of Deans of the faculties of the Islamic University. It is worth mentioning that newly arrived teachers would join faculties of Arabic, Islamic Studies and Shariah & Law at the university.

Row over termination of IIU teachers deepens

IIU president says sacked teachers’ allegations are baseless

The News, http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=162597
Saturday, February 14, 2009 Noor Aftab Islamabad

Row over termination of two senior teachers from the faculty of engineering and technology of the International Islamic University (IIU) Islamabad is deepening day by day as both administration and students stick to their respective viewpoints.

Twelve committees constituted by the students have shown firm resolve that if both the terminated teachers are not restored to their positions they would continue to lodge protest even on the streets of the city.

IIU President Dr. Anwar Hussain Siddiqui said the contract signed by Dr. Ijaz Mansoor Qureshi, acting dean of faculty of engineering and technology, clearly stated that either side can end the contract on one-month notice without showing any reason.

The IIU administration has terminated the services of Dr. Ijaz Mansoor Qureshi, dean of faculty of engineering and technology and Professor Dr. Ejaz Ahmad that led to protests by the students who alleged that this step was taken on the basis of some personal grudges. The termination letters issued to sacked teachers carried only two to three short sentences without showing any specific reasons for this step. One of the letter issued to Dr. Mansoor Qureshi read “due to some internal constraints we do not require your services”.

Dr. Ijaz Mansoor Qureshi told ‘The News’ that a person sent by the university administration reached his house on Jan 24 in the late evening and asked him to receive his termination letter. “It was just a humiliation so I refused to receive the termination letter at my home. I asked the person that I would come to the university and receive my termination letter in my office,” he said.

Dr. Ijaz, who was working on two-year contract to be expired on June 30 this year, said he received his termination letter on January 26, in his office and was stunned to know that he was dismissed without showing any reason. He said, “I am ready to face the IIU president on any forum and if he wants to hold debate with me I invite him to come and argue with me,” he said. Dr. Ijaz said he had already supervised six Ph.D students and eight more are going to do it in the coming days. He alleged that he was terminated only on the basis of personal liking and disliking of the university administration, adding “I always prefer my work and profession over any other thing”.

When contacted IIU President Dr. Anwar Hussain Siddiqui said dean of the faculty of engineering and technology was terminated following all the relevant rules and procedures. He said Dr. Ijaz Qureshi, hired on a high salary, was given due respect, but he made a pressure group against the administration and started exploiting on various issues. Dr. Anwar alleged that the sacked dean gave admission to 150 students in MS and Ph.D programmes and when “I asked him (dean) how can we manage when they will start their thesis, then he gave me no proper answer”.

He also alleged that Dr. Ijaz Qureshi forwarded the names of his previous students for two posts who did not have the relevant experience.

“When I oppose their appointment because they were not fulfilling the requirements, then Dr. Qureshi with some other people started pressurising me to get undue favour,” he said. Dr. Anwar said there are 8 faculties and 27 departments having 1,700 male and female students, adding “I don’t indulge in petty affairs so allegations of personal grudges by Dr. Qureshi are quite false and baseless”. Representatives of various students committees, who requested anonymity to avoid any alleged victimisation by the university administration, said new acting dean of the faculty of engineering and technology held a meeting with them on Wednesday and assured that their demands would be fulfilled.

“But on Thursday we were conveyed a message that if they take back the demand of restoration of the sacked teachers then all other demands would be fulfilled in one go,” they alleged. They said they were waiting for the response due to which they did not hold protest demonstration on Thursday and Friday but now they would re-continue their protests unless both dismissed teachers are not restored by the university administration.

Corruption, Nepotism & Maladministration

We have received the following note from various faculty members and we are sharing it here with a view to bring the affairs of IIUI in limelight. Previously, the blog team deliberately refrained from posting the information which we have been continuously receiving from faculty members and university employees. However, the situation has drastically changed now and university affairs are getting worst day by day. It is pertinent that these and many other allegations of corruption, maladministration, nepotism and ideological bias should be thoroughly probed followed by appropriate administrative changes.

I I U I Blog Team
--------------------------------

Open Letter

"Under faculty development programme HEC has approved 29 scholarships for IIUI faculty and has paid 31 million for first phase. Most of the faculty members have paid university fee and residential expenditures in advance with this understanding that University will pay them ultimately. Their Visa has been stamped but Dr. Siddique transfer and spent all money for building construction. All these faculty members and their families are unrest and mentally upset.

Dr. Siddiqu is bounded to strictly follow the criteria of current policy of BOG and HEC but Dr. Siddiqu is going to violate the criteria during the new appointments and can not appoint a person just on these ground that once upon a time he/she was associate professor/ Professor or he/she are working elsewhere other university as associate professor/ Professor so they have no need to fulfill the current eligibility criteria and even no need of medical fitness. Keep in mind that against any post or new appointment the candidate must be required to fulfill the present eligibility criteria given in the advertisement which must be according to current policy, but he is appointing so many people according to eligibility criteria of stone life.

Faculty has a great objection on contractual jobs. There are a lot of examples in which many favorite persons have been appointed against very high positions without any merit and they are being paid a very high salary which is one of the main deficit in budget at IIUI, although they do not qualify even more than lecturer, assistant professor and assistant director but they are acting as Chairman, Dean, Director and full Professors

You know after the age of retirement, Universities can only hire those people who have a strong academic career in their life but only for teaching or constancy/advisory not against the administrative or regular posts like Dean/ Chairman but beyond 65 no question about appointment. But he is also appointed four persons as a Deans who are round about 70 years old. One can dare to ask Dr. Siddique that how can he mange thousand of salary of Contractual people on the name of BOG contract and market subject??

Salary package of contractual people should be equal to the regular faculty members in the whole university or at least faculty wise it should be same. At present the ration between Contractual and permanent is 3:1. Still the regular faculty of BPS IIUI has not received the 20% of increased in their salary announced by government. Would you like to realize sir that how one can survive with this small amount of salary you know we live hand to mouth?

Dr. Anwar Hussain Siddiqu the President IIUI has appointed many favorite/family persons against very high positions without any merit and still this practice is going on. They all are being paid a very high salary although they do not qualify even more than lecturer, assistant professor but unfortunately they are acting as Chairman, Dean, Director and full Professors.

Dr. Siddique is playing the role of one man in the university. Without any consensus he tries to finalize all the rules and regulation either by force or by pressure. When his own daughter became ceased then he changed and diverts the criteria for readmission.

People having proven illicit affairs with female students are part of faculty and being promoted by the President himself. (Stories of Court marriage is also discussed among the students). Especially the case of Dr. Arbab who tried to black male a student can be verified through Ex Director women Campus Farhat Mujtaba.

He always bulldoze the proceedings of meetings of Academic Council, Selection Boards and take the wrong decisions which create agitation among the students and afterwards take back all decision which has become a routine for him.

He also appointed a Person Dr. Shuja. When he applied as associate professor on TTS during his COMSAT stay then his application was reviewed by Dr. Shokat hameed Ex Rector of GIK (at present is working in Planning Commission). Dr. Showkat hameed found that this person is badly involved in Plagiarism and on his report Dr. Junaid Zaidi terminate his services. One can verify it by Dr. Showkat Hameed.

Dr. Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq

Without foreign evaluation he has appointed Dr. Zia in grade 21 in the Faculty of Shariah and Law (He was assistant professor in AIOU), although he did not have required number of Papers in HEC recognized journals and has no LLB and LLM degrees on his credit. His PhD degree is also dubious. First Deans committee was rejected his application for professorship due to less number of publication than after the personal interest of Dr. Siddique, Dr. Zia is selected on the bases of voting through Dean’s committee. This all happened Dr. Siddique influence and pressure. Is it right criteria to appoint a person in grade 21 in the university with out having required number of publication? They have no teaching experience in formal education. Even he did not qualify for associate professor.

Dr. M. Irfan Khan

Dr. Siddique appointed Dr. Irfan as a full professor in BPS 21 who does not qualify even Associate Professor and he is already dismissed from his services from AIOU and has no required number of publications and did not published even a single paper in recognized journal of HEC in the last five years.

Dr. Farkhanda Zia

Dr. Siddique appointed a lecturer Dr. Farkhanda Zia directly in BPS 21 without foreign evaluation who does not fulfill the eligibility criteria and have no required number of publications. She went aboard for PhD on university’s scholarship and did not return after completion of her degree. Dr. Siddique elevated a lecturer to full professor and now she is not willing to serve the university. She is always applying for extended leave and reportedly still out of the country. University authorities decline genuine leave applications of faculty members but no one has asked her about her long term absence after completion of PhD study leave. Instead, Dr. Siddique extended her extraordinary favour.

Dr. M. Sher

In his last tenure his PhD degree was proved fake and now appointed as full professor in grade 21 without foreign referee reports and without meeting the HEC criteria. He has only three HEC recognized papers on his credit.

Dr. Irshad Ahmed Arshad

Dr. Siddique selected a person Dr.. Irshad Ahmed Arshad in grade 20 without foreign evaluation on 31st of January 2009. Dr. Irshad has only one paper in HEC recognized journal, although he claimed 08 number of publication but rest of his seven papers are not published in HEC recognized Journals even one paper has published in one of journal which is black listed and badly involved in plagiarism. Dr. Irshad does not qualify more than Assistant Professor. He is working assistant professor at AIOU nowadays.

FMS

Dr. Farooq, who claims to be nephew of President, was hired as PhD, but he is not a PhD and Dr. Shahbaz Gill is another one. The appointment criterion which was bulldozed for both are the part of FMS conspiracy and as result a man Mr. Danishmand is appointed as Dean in FMS who does not have PhD degree on his credit but also medically unfit for services.

The minimum criteria of HEC for the post of associate professor and professor on BPS 20 and 21 respectively:

Person must have PhD degree for the post of Associate professor and Professor(No relaxation/ no discretion of authority)

For Associate professor 8 publication recognized by HEC journals are required and at least two are with in span of five years (No relaxation/ no discretion of authority)

For the post of Professor ship 12 publications are required and three must be published with in the period of three years (No relaxation/ no discretion of authority)

For the post of Associate professor and Professor Application must be evaluated by foreign expert (No relaxation/ no discretion of authority).

For the post of Associate professor and Professor Application must be appeared before selection board (Relaxation up to discretion of authority).

Ten to 15 years teaching and research experience is also required (Relaxation up to discretion of authority).

In the presence of four senior faculty members at IIIE(ECONIMICS) Dr. Siddique appointed and retired bureaucrat on contractual basis with handsome salary package instated of permanent faculty members because he personally dislike them.

He also appointed Mr. Haider as full profess in FET nowadays he is working as Chairman and acting Dean of FET. This person is badly involved in corruption and dismissed from his services from his previous institute. His corruption can be find out through RASTEK COMPANY.

Keeping in view the plethora of facts it is very humbly suggested that an high profile committee should be formed to review all the selection process and the grievances of the faculty. We feel that at least seven members committee should be impartial and its member should be

HEC nominee
Two nominee of teacher Community
Two nominee from other universities (NUST,COMSAT, QAU)

This committee should submit the report to Chancellor and Chairman HEC for further action.

Yours truly,

Various Faculty Members"

IIU students protest against termination of faculty members

University spokesman claims only one dean dismissedWednesday,

February 11, 2009 Noor Aftab, The News: http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=162031

Islamabad Students of the International Islamic University (IIU) held a protest demonstration here on Tuesday against termination of two senior faculty members.

The protesters, carrying placards, chanted slogans against the university administration and demanded restoration of the sacked professors at the earliest.

Various student leaders addressed the gathering and blamed the university administration for taking discriminatory measures against senior faculty members. They said the university administration has terminated Professor Dr. Ijaz Mansoor Qureshi and Professor Dr. Ejaz Muhammad without any genuine reason, as evident from the text of their termination letters.

Dr. Qureshi has served as an acting dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology for one-and-a-half years before his termination. While Dr. Ejaz Muhammad is among those professors who have joined the Faculty of Engineering and Technology and started research and development in the working environment coined by Dr. Ijaz Mansoor Qureshi.

The protesters alleged that research activities at the FET have stopped and students of FET, especially MS and PhD scholars, were bearing a big loss. They appealed to President Asif Ali Zardari, who is also chancellor of the IIU, to restore the prominent professors at their respective positions.

NNI adds: A spokesman of the International Islamic University has said that only one dean who was working on temporary basis and whose contract was about to end in June 2009 was dismissed due to his maladministration. The spokesman added that the university has over 17,000 male and female students studying in eight faculties and 27 departments peacefully.

Responses

In response to our post: A season of commemoration at IIUI, we have received the following comments. We are sharing these comments with an aim to initiate a discussion on the institutional character of IIUI and its current focus. Please feel free to post your views in the comments section or write us directly at: iiuiblog@gmail.com. Enjoy the reading!

-----

Shabib said...

What is International about your University except that you have some narrow minded arabic speaking individuals like yourself in it?The seminar was attended by International envoys and the Minter for Foreign Affairs himself.What could be more International than that ?Re The Archeolgical and Historical Association ,all you need to do is google it !It has been taking envoys and foreign diplomats to various neglected arcelogical sites in Pakistan.They have numerous numerous contributions ...it was because of their efforts that roads got built in towns ,hidden assets of country were dug out!It ha renowned names attached to it ..legends like Dr.Akbar S Ahmed, Ahmed Hasan Dani and Dr.Ghazanfar Mehdi himself.Furthermore, all of the NGOS which Dr.Sahib runs , do not raise funds from the public.You really need to get your head examined before you decide to do your mud slinging on succesful people.And make dua that allah(swt) makes idiots like you , a little more than moaning pots!
February 1, 2009 1:18 AM

Kaiser said...

Isn't this the same University that was suspected to have had a hand in the Bombay attacks?Had it not been for the farsightedness of Mr Siddiqui, this university would closed down as yet another centre responsible for breeding extremism.This University has alot of narrow-minded individuals whose extremist views show clearly a lack of knowledge about Sufiism, Tolerance and Peace.This Extremism is a cancer trying to eat away the very core of the Islamic Faith by removing any recognition of how Islam has been propagated through Love and Peace.The harm extremism has caused the Ummah is immense, almost beyond belief.Even if all non-muslims in the world joined hands and attacked the Muslims it would not have been as damaging as these extremist views and the sinister campaign to propagate them all over the world.We all know the 'International' Programmes the IIUI used to hold..It is this change of stance that has got the IIUI out of the cross-hairs of various agencies.Finally it looks like the IIUI is getting a broader and more worthy international coverage than just local media.Inshallah the IIUI will become a truely International institution as it abandons its extremist past.

Dr Anwar Ahmad Siddiqui: (New) President IIUI

After our following post, the web team has rectified the name error and “Dr. Anwar Ahmad Siddiqui” is now again Dr. Anwar Hussain Siddiqui. This is not the first time that IIUI’s IT & web team is showing such an excellent level of efficiency and competence. In response to some of our earlier posts, they have done the same thing but never bothered to fix the systematic problems in their working. However, they should be applauded that at least after realizing some problem, they are ready to act. Isn’t it a rare character in our university?


Yesterday morning, we were surprised either at our ignorance or ignorance of one of the scribes who submitted the report of a seminar on Gaza held at IIUI. The first few lines of the report read like this:

"A Seminar on the Israeli War on Gaza: Causes and Consequences was organized by Iqbal International Institute for Research & Dialogue at International Islamic University Auditorium Islamabad. Dr. Anwar Ahmad Siddiqui, President International Islamic University was in the Chair. While the panelists included Professor Amir Ali Hoodbhoy, Ambassador Tayyab Siddiqui, Professor Amna Mahmood Sandhu and Junaid Ahmad,…..( http://www.iiu.edu.pk/News/january_09.html#discussion)"

The most terrible mistake is very obvious: Dr Anwar Ahmad Siddiqui or is it because of our ignorance of Dr Sahib’s recent name change which most of us are unaware of. But what might have prompted Dr Anwar to change his name at this stage of his life?? Then he might not have changed his name and it is all a mischief of a newly recruited reporter or an intern who has not been briefed about the president. The mistake of not knowing the name of a top gun at an institution is forgivable if institutions are more important than individuals but at IIUI, it’s the president of the university who wields all the powers and we feel pity for the scribe who has got the name of the president wrong.

Its not only the President’s name that needs correction. Dr Hoodbhoy’s name is incomplete and we wonder what does Ambassador Tayyab Siddiqui mean? It is nothing but bad taste.

The most important lesson that we learn from this episode is that IIUI does not follow any systematic procedures to upload new materials on the website. Otherwise, mistakes of this kind are easy to avoid. It is our conjecture that the report was prepared by one of the reporters working in the protocol department. His seniors should have approved the report before sending it to the web master who works under a director in IT Centre whose efficiency is limited to ban IIUI blog being accessed from University network. He should also be responsible for approving all the content that goes online. In this case it seems that there is no filter between the reporter and the readers like us and one day it may result in some weird happening that will embarrass all at the helm of affairs. But do they ever get embarrassed????

A season of commemoration at IIUI

Our IIUI is always in news and this time the buzz word is "remembrance" as allsorts of conferences and references are in pipeline. While we were struggling to digest the political correctness of Dr. Siddiqui and others after the International seminar on Benazir Bhutto, the next mega event is announced and this time IIUI is "holding an international conference to highlight the historic spiritual role of Hazrat Bahauddin Zakria". Makdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister of Foreign Affairs will be the Chief Guest at this occasion.

There are certain remarkable things about organizing a seminar in our university. First, almost every event which we organize is "international" by default because we are an "International" university. Secondly, we are marvelous people when it comes choosing partner organizations. One can notice university's growing affinity with the "prestigious" Archaeological & Historical Association of Pakistan led by Mr. Ghazanfar Mehdi. Out of our sheer curiosity we were unsuccessfully trying to find the research and academic profile of this Islamabad based association. Then we realized that it is indeed a fake organization like several dozen other in the pocket of Mr. Ghazanfar Mehdi who is readily available to exploit the platform of any institution to strengthen his public relations and "ancillary" activities. What IIUI is getting out of this relationship is yet to be explored.

So we are having this seminar and what next? May be the urs of Hazrat Barri Imam or Hazrat Mehr Ali Shah? Presumably not! We think that the strategic Siddiqui-Mehdi alliance will further show their political correctness and in-depth understanding of political governance in Pakistan and their next move should be the following:

-A global conference to highlight the spiritual role of Syed Musa Pak of Multan and inevitably the Prime Minister of Pakistan would be the Chief Guest.

-A national conference to highlight the role of Makhdoom Talib-ul-Mola, the spiritual leader of Sarwari Jammat and the father of Commerce Minister, Makhdoom Amin Fahim.

There are several other possibilities which Mr. Ghazanfar Mehdi can share to get the things done according to the expectations of university authorities. We are happy that Dr. Siddiqui has excellent advisors around him at this critical juncture of his career to help him perpetuate the severe crisis of governance and leadership at IIUI. We cannot expect anything better from him and his team which belong to “prestigious” phony organizations. However, we were definitely expecting a much better and decent response from Dr. Manzoor Ahmad amidst this crisis but apparently he is no where too.

Our traditional educational systems

The News, http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=149920

Monday, December 01, 2008

By Asad Zaman

In Orientalism, one of the most significant and influential books of the twentieth century, Edward Said describes how the European project of colonising the rest of the world distorted all academic knowledge produced about the East (the Orient). The necessity of justifying and providing a moral basis for the loot and plunder of Asia, Africa and the Americas led to the invention of a large number of western theories which made it impossible to achieve an objective understanding of the East. Imperialism and exploitation was cloaked under the noble objective of the White Man’s burden to spread the benefits of his civilisation to the rest of the world. The extremely cruel treatment of blacks (leading to an estimated 10 million slaves taken out and about a 100 million killed in the process, over the period of European colonisation of Africa), was justified by the invention of racism: according to a US court ruling Negroes were “”beings of an inferior order … they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect.”

The superiority complex of the west described in Orientalism has a natural counterpart in the inferiority complex in the East. The colonial educational system was designed by Macaulay, who expressed his extreme contempt for our heritage in his famous Minute on Indian education: “(no one) could deny that a single shelf of a good European library was worth the whole native literature of India and Arabia.” European superiority becomes an article of faith to those trained to be “Indian in colour, but English in taste” and criticisms such as the present one invoke an irritated defence combined with the platitude that if Europeans are bad, we and our ancestors are even worse.

This essay was motivated by a recent article in Dawn contending that “public education began in our subcontinent with the advent of British rule. Before that, no such system existed.” This perpetuates the European myth that we were all ignorant savages and barbarians before the white man came to educate and civilise us. The facts are so breathtakingly at variance with this picture that they will come as a shock to the average reader.

The educational system of India was one of the wonders of the world and people from many lands came to India in search of knowledge and wisdom. A contemporary account from pre-British India states that while excellent scholars are present everywhere in India, Delhi can be especially proud of the vast assortment of world-class experts in every field of knowledge as well as trade and craft. Among both Muslims and Hindus it was a religious duty to support scholars and to free them from worldly worries so they could concentrate on the acquisition of knowledge.

Scholars could and did travel the country in search of knowledge without financial constraints, since they could count on hospitality wherever they went. Private and public libraries galore, books, copyists, authors, public debates, intellectual competitions of many types, testify to a widespread culture of learning, where even courtesans boasted of literary accomplishments.

This culture survived into the early periods of colonial rule: Dalrymple writes that “He (the Muslim man) who holds an office worth twenty rupees a month commonly gives his sons an education equal to that of a prime minister. … After seven years of study, the young Muhammadan … (is nearly the equal of) … a young man raw from Oxford. “ He said research on madrasas in early colonial British India showed that the syllabus employed at the Nizamia Madrasa, which served as a model for madrassas elsewhere, represented a blend of revealed sciences, including the Quran, the hadith, fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and tafsir (Quranic commentary), on the one hand, and the “ ’aqli ‘ulum (rational sciences), including Arabic language, grammar, logic, rhetoric, philosophy, astronomy, medicine, physics and mathematics, on the other.”

Our educational systems were destroyed by deliberate British policy, which seized numerous endowments (Awqaf) set up for educational purposes, and denied jobs to all but those trained in the newly set up British educational systems. The destruction was so thorough that not only the educational institutions but the cultural traditions and even the memory of these institutions was lost:

Wae nakami, mata-e-karvan jata raha, Karvan kay dil say ehsas-e-zian jata raha. (Iqbal)

The British educational system was explicitly designed to create intermediaries between the ruling class and the public; in effect, a method of producing bureaucrats and clerks, not scholars. The greatest loss from the introduction of this system has been the transformation of the concept of education as a sacred duty which leads to spiritual transformation and enlightenment, to education as means of acquiring a job.

This problem can only be fixed by reverting to our traditions. In her book The Making of the Modern University: Intellectual Transformation and the Marginalisation of Morality, Harvard Professor Julie Reuben has described how universities in the USA abandoned their mission to build character and develop morals, opting for a purely technical education. It was not illiterate savages, but graduates of the finest educational systems of the West who designed the gas chambers used to burn millions of innocent men, women and children in Germany. David Halberstam, in his book The Brightest and the Best, has documented how graduates of Yale and Harvard ran the Vietnam War on the pattern of an efficient business, with callous disregard for human suffering: more than one million civilians died as “collateral damage” in the mass bombings and napalming, and atrocities and massacres were common. PhD physicists who developed the nuclear bomb denied any responsibility for Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Leading biologists work for salaries to develop non-fertile varieties of genetically engineered high-yield grains so that multinationals can profit from the hunger of humanity. The value of technical expertise is lost if the expert will stuff his pockets at the expense of the public at every opportunity. There is substantial evidence to show that the greed of highly educated financial wizards is responsible for the current global financial crisis. There is a vital need to relearn and revive our heritage in education, which emphasised character, integrity, honesty and morality in addition to the development of competence in specialized subjects.

The writer teaches economics at the International Islamic University of Islamabad.

Email: asadzaman@alum.mit.edu

Shaheed Benazir Bhutto International Conference on Dec 22

From: Associated Press of Pakistan, http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=61939&Itemid=2

ISLAMABAD, Dec 14 (APP): Shaheed Benazir Bhutto International Conference will commence on December 22 in which ambassadors of thirteen countries will read condolence messages about Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto sent by heads of the states.

This was told in the meeting of the Central Executive of the Archeological and Historical Association of Pakistan held here under the Chairmanship of Dr Ghazanfar Mehdi, said a news release issued here.

The conference will be jointly organized by the Archeological and Historical Association of Pakistan (AHAP) and International Islamic University.

The theme of the conference will be “Benazir Bhutto as a great champion of global peace, protector of democracy and defender of human rights”

Professor Dr Riaz Ahmad Secretary General AHAP told following tradition of Islamabad, we have arranged reference in the memory of the noted personality in which intellectuals highlight the contribution of the deceased.

He said that Professor Anwar Hussain Siddiqui, President IIUI who is the chairman of the reception committee of the international conference and its management committee are taking keen interest for the success of this historic conference. He said a meeting of preparatory committee of the conference will be held at Islamic University in which the programme of the conference will be finalized.

Professor Anwar Siddiqui, President IIU will chair the meeting. The proceedings of the conference will be published in the form of book.

IIUI teachers observe strike

The News, Tuesday, December 02, 2008By Our correspondent

http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=150184

Islamabad: A token strike was observed by the faculty members of International Islamic University against the financial and administrative mismanagement of the higher authorities of the university.

The university teachers and heads of various departments gathered in front of the main block of the university to register their protest and demanded the twenty percent increase in their salaries as promised by the government in the last fiscal budget. All of the teachers were wearing black bands around their arms.

Addressing the gathering of teachers, the President of Academic Staff Association (ASA) of the university, pressed the university authorities to meet the legitimate demands of the teachers’ community. The President of ASA said that the additional appointments of different individuals on lucrative posts were badly affecting the financial health of the university.

This protest was the first phase of the series of protests chalked out by the Association in consultation with entire academic staff a couple of days ago, told one of the ASA members. He added that in the next phase the teachers’ community had planned to hold press conferences and protests if their demands were not met.

It is pertinent to mention that almost all the universities in public as well as private sector have given a 20% increase in the salaries of their employees except IIUI, which claims to bear international character and Islamic following.

We want to hear from you!

As an IIUI faculty member and academician, have you ever heard about the meetings of university’s Board of Governors (BoG), Academic Council, Deans and Directors Committee, Board of Studies, IIUI Purchase & Procurement Committee etc.? Any chance, though accidentally, to go through the minutes and decisions of such meetings? Have you ever considered that who represents you in these meetings about certain very crucial issues of academic nature and career path? Who decides that who would be your representative and how do some handpicked representatives perform on these forums? Have they ever reported back to their constituents to solicit feedback and response formulation? Have you ever been asked at IIUI to chose your representative for various committees’ membership?

If you are absolutely shocked with these questions and finding yourself a “missing person” in the discourse then come along and share your thoughts about these issues with us for our upcoming post on this topic. Please send your thoughts to: iiuiblog@gmail.com

Renowned scholar, eminent educationist Dr. Khalid Alvi passes away

ISLAMABAD: http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=136375

Renowned scholar and eminent educationist Dr. Khalid Alvi died this evening due to heart failure. He was 68 years old.

Dr. Khalid Alvi was PhD from University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He taught forty years in various institutions. He had served as Director General Dawah Academy-IIUI, Islamabad, Director of Islamic studies at Birmingham University and Director of Sheikh Zayed Islamic center-Lahore.

He had more than twenty books in English, Arabic and Urdu to his credit. Presently he was serving as Dean of Arts and Humanities in WISH (Women’s Institute of Science and Humanities) Islamabad. He is survived by a wife and a son.

Prayers for the departed soul will be offered in Faisal Mosque Islamabad after Zuhr prayers. Maulana Abdul Jabbar Shakir will lead the prayers. He will be buried in the graveyard of the Punjab University after Isha prayers. Qazi Hussain Ahmad Ameer -e-Jam at -e-Islami will lead the prayers in Lahore.