The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the syndicate of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF), to investigate 228 appointments made across grades 1 to 22, and ordered that every person named in the inquiry be given a hearing.
Justice Khalid Ishaq issued the order on petitions filed by Professor Ehsan Qadir Bhabha and others. The syndicate has been instructed to examine the legal status, merit and transparency of the recruitments, which cover both junior staff and professors.
Petitioners’ counsel Zohaib Imran Sheikh, a Supreme Court advocate, told the court that the 228 appointments were made unlawfully. He said former Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan issued all the notifications late at night on the eve of his retirement.
The counsel said the Governor of Punjab, as chancellor of the university, had earlier directed the syndicate to look into the alleged illegal recruitments. He maintained that those appointed obstructed that inquiry and used court stay orders to avoid proceedings.
He argued that the law does not allow government posts to be filled through unlawful or non-transparent means. After hearing all parties, the court ordered the syndicate to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the appointments.
