Illegal appointments: Punjab governor gives two months to 12 varsities to fix responsibility.

LAHORE -- Governor Chaudhry Sarwar has given a two-month deadline to 12 public universities in Punjab to take up the matter of illegal appointments made during the last 10 years and report to him about them after fixing responsibility.

The governor has forwarded the report of the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab that detected over 4,500 illegal appointments in the universities.

The governor, who is also the chancellor of the public sector universities, directed the VCs to take the matter to their syndicates to 'investigate and fix responsibility'.

In a talk to Dawn, Governor Sarwar said, 'It is the responsibility of the vice chancellors that all appointments are made on merit'.

He added that the ACE had pointed out illegal appointments in some public sector universities.

'I have sought a report from the varsities in question and action will be initiated in accordance with the law against those involved in illegal appointments,' Mr Sarwar declared and added that being the chancellor, he had appointed all VCs on merit and it was their duty to ensure all appointments in their respective institutions on merit.

Earlier, the ACE had recommended to the chancellor to take 'strict legal action' against those involved in illegal appointments in 12 varsities.

According to the ACE, some 4,554 illegal appointments (from BPS-1 to BS-17 and above) were made against the rules and service laws without advertising vacancies with a financial impact of Rs6bn during the last 10 years or so.

Talking to Dawn, Punjab University VC Prof Dr Niaz Ahmed said the chancellor had directed the varsity to look into the matter as per its Act.

'All these appointments identified by ACE were contractual. We are going to convene the syndicate meeting to take up the matter and will report back to the chancellor,' Prof Ahmed said and added that not a single appointment was made on contract during his tenure.

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