Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Ghulam Ali Khan ended the months-long crisis that was going on in the Gomal University by revoking the order about sending the varsity’s Vice-Chancellor Dr Iftikhar Ahmad on forced leave as the latter resumed charge of his duty on Wednesday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Due to unwanted political interference from former federal minister Ali Amin Gandapur and hooliganism by a group of university students, the Gomal University was pushed to the brink of maladministration and financial crisis. With this, a long series of litigations was ensued, deepening the crisis and disturbing the educational and administrative affairs of the institution.
Dr Iftikhar was sent on forced leave by former governor Shah Farman and after him acting governor Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani on the charge that he was reluctant to implement a decision on assets distribution between his varsity and the newly-created University of Agriculture, Dera Ismail Khan.
A special meeting of senate of Gomal University was held at Governor’s House in Peshawar on Tuesday wherein the order about sending Dr Iftikhar on forced leave was withdrawn.
The meeting, presided over by Governor Ghulam Ali, held a detailed discussion on the distribution of assets between Gomal University and University of Agriculture Dera Ismail Khan.
The meeting was told that 1,000 kanals of land was transferred from Gomal University to Agricultural University. The faculty of agriculture of Gomal University has also been transferred to Agricultural University.
The meeting was attended by Gomal University Pro-VC Dr Shakibullah, Higher Education Special Secretary Rashid Paindakhel, representatives of Higher Education Commission, finance and establishment departments and members of senate of the university including retired Justice Dawood Khan.
Reporter Sajid Baloch